Now in a newly revised and expanded edition, Danes In Wisconsin is a brief history of Danish immigrants and their contribution to Wisconsin settlement and history during the 1800's. Vintage black-and-white photographs illustrate this fascinating introduction, written for lay readers, to how Danish settlers lived and how they struggled to preserve their culture. New to revised and expanded addition are the letters of Andrew Frederickson, written over a forty-year span, which succinctly capture the personal experiences of a Dane who made a new life for himself in Wisconsin. A brief yet savory and entertaining tidbit of Wisconsin history, especially recommended as a gift or souvenir book.

Tales From The Wisconsin Badgers by Justin Doherty (Director of Athletic communications, University of Wisconsin) is a compilation of anecdotes, personal recollections, and original research that provides the reader with glimpses of what makes Wisconsin Badgers football both unique and inherently interesting. Doherty surveys the entire history of the Badger football program from its humble beginnings through the glory years of head coach Barry Alvarez. Along the way readers are treated to the bizarre tale of "Kangaroo Kicker" Pat O'Dea, the mysterious discovery of a long-forgotten trophy of one of college football's longest rivalries in a Camp Randall storeroom nearly 50 years after its disappearance, a 23-game winless streak finally broken with a victory over archrival Iowa in 1969, and dozens of other humorous, poignant, and memorable stories about the Wisconsin Badgers. Drawing upon personal interviews with more than two dozen players, coaches, and staff members, Tales From The Wisconsin Badgers is a "must read" sports team history for all Badger fans and an essential acquisition for Wisconsin's community libraries for future generations of Badger football enthusiasts!

Jan Heine (the Editor of Vintage Bicycle Quarterly magazine) presents The Golden Age Of Handbuilt Bicycles, a lavishly illustrated and beautifully presented showcase of classic bicycles created with exquisite craftsmanship, and strict attention to detail and practicality alike. Featuring full-color photography by Jean-Pierre Praderes throughout, The Golden Age Of Handbuilt Bicycles offers a very brief commentary about the features and special distinctions of each brand of bicycle, from the Schulz (1935-1937) to the Rene Herse (1946-1947) to the Caminargent (1951) and many more. Each individual bicycle type has approximately two to four pages of superb color photography, including in-close shots, as well as a handful of vintage black-and-white photos of the bikes being used by people pepper this elaborate compendium especially recommended for collectors and hobby enthusiasts. The Golden Age Of Handbuilt Bicycles is very highly recommended for cycling enthusiasts.

These are personal stories of the author Susan Krieger's slow loss of sight and provides ten brief reflections and one novella-length drama which follows Susan's birdwatching in a New Mexico desert, learning to use a white cane, and final enjoyment of life's visions before losing her sight. Outer landscapes may change, but inner vision persists - and Susan Krieger faces disability and a changed life with renewed vision. Things No Longer There is very highly recommended reading.

Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder causing uncontrollable motor or vocal tics such as blinking, jerking, throat clearing, and "barking" noises. About ten percent of Tourette Syndrome sufferers have the type of verbal tick that vocalizes foul languages. Today about 100,000 people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with full-blown Tourette syndrome. Back the early 1980s, when seven-year-old Brad Cohen developed Tourette Syndrome, the condition was almost unknown and always misunderstood. Brad was taunted, ridiculed, and even physically attacked through his elementary, junior high and high school years because of his condition. Other children, teachers, and sometimes even his own family members found it difficult to be around him. Even now, as an adult in 2005, Brad still gets kicked out of some restaurants and theaters, despite carrying his Americans with Disabilities Act card. Front Of The Class: How Tourette Syndrome Made Me The Teacher I Never Had is the autobiographical story of how Brad was able deal with his condition and become an educator and motivational speaker. Included are twenty-three motivational tips on living with any disability. Strongly recommended reading, especially for anyone similarly afflicted, Front Of The Class is the remarkable story of a remarkable man who learned to deal with a marked and all too remarkable affliction.

Any Irish reader interested in Irish history will want to turn to Cian Molloy's The Story Of The Irish Pub, an intoxicating history of family-owned pubs in Ireland and a key to understanding Irish history and culture that blends profiles of over 100 such pubs with a history of the licensed trade across Ireland. While black and white photos and plenty of maps lend to The Story Of The Irish Pub's "take along" importance for a trip to the 'old country'. Armchair readers will find much to delight their eye in The Story Of The Irish Pub..

Nolo Press
950 Parker St., Berkeley, Ca 94710

Two essential references should be on the shelf of any public library: they provide invaluable information for a wide range of audiences. The 12th edition of How To File For Chapter 7 Bankruptcy (141330-1797, $29.99) by Attorneys Stephen Elias, Albin Renauer and Robin Leonard doesn't just explain Chapter 7 and the other bankruptcy options and their effects on credit and lives: it includes all the forms and step-by-step details needed to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. From associated problems such as stopping creditor calls and harassment to fending off wage garnishments, collections, and more; How To File For Chapter 7 Bankruptcy provides important keys to moving on and starting over. The 11th edition of Attorney Anthony Mancuso's How To Form A Nonprofit Corporation In California (1413303722, $49.99) includes all the forms on cd-rom and easy instructions which are keys to creating a do-it-yourself nonprofit entity without a lawyer's fees. From filing articles and bylaws to preparing meeting minutes, the latest rules are discussed for California organizations. Both are outstanding, important references.

Corporations and governments are sharing some of the same tactics to manipulate consumer attitudes and perceptions, and it's time to understand the roots of these messages in We Know What You Want: How They Change Your Mind. From retail sales to media, events, and virtual reality, case studies spotlight 'trend' origins, influences, and underlying goals in a thought-provoking, often frightening, clear set of examples and discussions. A 'must read' for any interested in business, marketing, consumerism and beyond.

President Bush says al-Qaeda has attacked because of their hatred of freedom and democracy - but the average Islamic peoples' real grievances are what rallies support for the group, more than an overall ideology. What Does Al-Qaeda Want? Unedited Communiques offers text of taped messages, decrees, and interviews with bin Laden and other al-Qaeda leaders in an effort to use primary sources to define more clearly al-Qaeda's objectives and concerns. What Does Al-Qaeda Want? is a 'must' for anyone who would gain informed, unedited perspectives on al-Qaeda and its purposes.

Bill Wilson is no newcomer to catapults - nor to writing about them. His first book on the topic provided many insights: Backyard Catapults: How To Built Your Own offers even more, from photos of the building process updated by more recent plans and ideas to catapult websites and contests around the country. Packed with black and white photos and diagrams, Backyard Catapults is a must for any interested in the topic.

While The King's English: Adventures Of An Independent Bookseller might seem to be about one small bookstore's experiences, it's actually much more: a lively survey of books, the love of reading, encounters with famous authors, and handling customers at the retail level. Blend in accounts of novelists and book signing events with book lists and social and political issues surrounding the literary and publishing worlds and you have far more than an autobiography.

Opium has held a mixed history in human affairs, moving from being a gift to humanity to being viewed as the addictive scourge of mankind. Opium: A Journey Through Time is a lovely documentation of these transitions, going back five thousand years to consider its origins in human affairs, to modern times. Gorgeous color illustrations pack Shearing's journey, providing a strong artistic accent to the story of opium's pros and cons.

There's a new interest in tractors and farm equipment history and fitting right in with this growing interest in Stuart Gibbard's The Ferguson Tractor Story, an outstanding history pairing vintage black and white and more modern color photos with a clear survey of the Ferguson tractor's invention, evolution and development over the years. Prototypes, variations on designs, and even models which existed only on paper are packed into a colorful, lively coverage which should easily reach beyond the specialized enthusiast market it's intended for.

There are over 177 miles of man-made tunnels and old quarries under the streets of Paris - and they aren't completely abandoned in modern times, but have become a focus for urban culture and art. For over 300 years visitors have chosen these tunnels to comment on events above ground: Caroline Archer & Alexandre Parre's Paris Underground (0972424075) charts both old and new material over the decades, providing an important survey of the history leading to the evolution of an 'underground alternative gallery'. Packed with images and examples, Paris Underground is an essential guide for any who would fully understand ALL the art of Paris. Nicole Recchia's Warning (0972563695) gathers wordless warning signs from common sources, organizing 'Death and Disaster' chapters by fire, crushing, falling and others, and adding a 'truly bizarre' section for those which fit nowhere else. Having the graphic warning labels side by side allows for some intriguing comparisons of design styles in this unique guide to contemporary disaster prevention.

College collections and public library reference holdings which get traffic in business research will want to make sure the latest 2nd updated edition of State Trends: Measuring Change In The 50 United States is on the reference shelf. From details on how much a college education has increased over the past 20 years to women in the workforce and health insurance standards, State Trends contrasts a new set of trends in the areas of employment, education, social welfare, and much more, measuring trends for 40 key quality of life factors. An excellent statistical compilation.

The Health/Medicine Shelf

Written by a Chinese martial arts and Qigong instructor who has trained and practiced since 1961, Arthritis Relief: Chinese Qigong For Healing And Prevention is now in an updated third edition with revised instructions for performing its suggested exercises. Presented as a complement to Western medicine, which is more proficient at relieving pain and inflammation than promoting full healing, Arthritis Relief demonstrates Qigong exercises and massage/acupressure techniques designed to rebuild the strength of one's joints, as well as an overview of arthritis itself and the dietary, genetic, and other factors that cause it. Black-and-white photographs demonstrate the recommended exercises and body movements. Though it cannot replace a visit to one's physician, Arthritis Relief is a welcome, easy-to-follow supplement especially for those suffering from arthritis and who want to do something more about it than just taking medicine.

Two out of shape friends used their friendship as the basis for establishing a consistent exercise routine - and you and a chosen friend can follow in their footsteps with their Best Friends' Guide To Getting Fit. From setting mutual fitness goals and establishing a routine to overcoming illness, injuries and even boredom and lack of discipline, certified personal trainers Murphy and Carpenter provide a wealth of inspirational tips.

Dr. Richard Rappaport's study of the discovery of the nerve synapse Nerve Endings (0393060195, $23.95) also presents the story of two doctors who shared the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1906 yet were separated by geographical and psychological differences. The parallel lives and discoveries of Santiago Ramon y Cajal and Camillo Golgi provides an intriguing survey of two men whose similar discoveries and investigative processes led to the science of neurosurgery and better understanding of neurological diseases. An intriguing survey of parallel lives and very different perspectives. Cecilia M. Mikalac, MD's Money And Outpatient Psychiatry: Practice Guidelines From Accounting To Ethics (0393704408, $45.00) covers many issues not usually revealed in grad school, which all practitioners need to know. Billing, accounting and business management concerns are translated into money management basics for psychiatric practices of all types, from practicing psychologists to social workers and nurses, covering such important topics as how to assess an office or practice's financial foundations, plan for private practice's ups and downs, and handling legal and ethical challenges along the way. The second section covering insurance concerns, managed care, drug companies, kickbacks and more is where the meat of the book lies, really delving into the daily concerns a private practice an expect to encounter. MD's Money And Outpatient Psychiatry is a 'must' for any clinician or practice in psychiatry.

G. Wayne Miller's The Xeno Chronicles: Two Years On The Frontier Of Medicine Inside Harvard's Transplant Research Lab focuses on Dr. David Sachs, a pioneer in immunology who has made many contributions in the field of organ transplants. His real passion lies in xenotransplantion: using animal parts to treat and replace human parts, and The Xeno Chronicles here examines his decades of work and the genetically engineered, cloned pig Goldie designed for organs which are not rejected by recipients. From limits of research money and time to moral and ethical concerns, The Xeno Chronicles does an excellent job of keeping a fast pace and a scientific eye on Dr. Sachs' promise and progress.

It's grueling work caring for victims who wind up in a burn unit: work author Barbara Ravage examines as she follows the Mass General health team working in the hospital's burn unit. Here are touching stories of victims severely burned, medical teams which care for them through a difficult recovery process, and insights into the latest advances in rehabilitation and treatment. The many case histories personalize the entire experience.

If it's a medical investigative thriller - true life - which is needed, look no further than Katherine Eban's Dangerous Doses: How Counterfeiters Are Contaminating America's Drug Supply. Stolen, counterfeit and compromised medicines are making their way into a poorly regulated American distribution system, Eban maintains. Her exploration of investigations into drug counterfeiters makes for powerful first-hand reporting as she follows a team of dedicated investigators trying to stem the flow.

The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

The hidden history of freemasons from Rome to modern times is revealed in a survey which traces modern freemasonry back to colleges of artisans in ancient Rome, and their organization evolution to the Arab turuqs, brotherhoods of builders created under the Knights Templar. Spiritual, social and cultural history blend in a survey which examines both Freemason history and spiritual concepts and how they changed from early to modern times. The Secret History Of Freemasonry: Its Origins And Connection To The Knights Templar provides fascinating and informative chapters covering everything from cooperative masonry associations to speculative masonry rituals.

Utilizing the classic Sharman-Caselli tarot deck, practicing analytic psychotherapist and astrologist Juliet Sharman-Burke draws upon her considerable expertise to provide a thoroughly "user friendly" guide and consumable workbook that will enable even the most novice metaphysical student to learn how they can read tarot cards. Black-and-white illustrations of each card, along with a summary of the card's implications and a section of lines for the reader to write down reflections comprise the majority of the down-to-basics fortune telling book. Charts laying out sample Tarot spreads and color pictures of the Sharman-Caselli tarot deck on the paperback dust jacket round out this highly accessible and easy-to-use guide.

If it's ghostly encounters which attract you and a visit to San Francisco is in your future, take a look at Jeff Dwyer's Ghost Hunter's Guide To The San Francisco Bay Area: it's a highlight of a hundred haunted spots in and around the city, all accessible to the public, where you can search out your own haunts. Anecdotes of sightings accompany checklists and details on available tours. Addresses and phones, and black and white photos of each haunted place, are included. Dwyer is a native of northern California and personal, extensive research has resulted in a winner.

Llewellyn
PO Box 64383, St. Paul, MN 55164
www.llewellyn.com

In 1994 author Annie Wilder and her children moved into a 100-year-old house in a Mississippi town: a spooky mansion which indeed proved to be haunted. House Of Spirits And Whispers (0738707775, $12.95) covers a decade's worth of the family's ghostly encounters and supernatural events and provides the gripping, true story of how a family lived with a haunted house. Konstantinos' Nocturnicon: Calling Dark Forces And Powers (0738708-321, $14.95) provides a guide to the dark side, using diverse source materials to present both ancient magick and religions and modern techniques for working with dark forces. This isn't just a historical survey: the techniques presented herein have proven to be more effective for the author than other forms of magick practiced over fifteen years: any practitioner of magick will find it intriguing. Ellen Dugan's Autumn Equinox: The Enchantment Of Mabon (0738706248, $14.95) tells of the Autumn Equinox celebration and its importance to Mabon's balance and plenty. Rituals, spells, recipes and customs to celebrate the Equinox blends folklore and myths with magick and divination rituals and even some seasonal crafts and treat recipes, providing a wide-ranging and positive view of how celebration rituals can be gathered and solidified. Patrick Dunn's Postmodern Magic: The Art Of Magic In The Information Age (0738706639, $14.95) offers a different perspective on magic, using an information paradigm to help readers assess beliefs and create their own magical language, entities and tools. From astral travel to predictions, new practitioners receive a fine set of updated magic tools. J.F. O'Neill's Foundations Of Magic: Techniques & Spells That Work (0738707430, $16.95) provides beginners with a guide to making magic - and it doesn't even require belief to work. This secular spell book gathers techniques from both magic and modern psychology, blending the two to create everyday spells which require psychological preparation to work. From editing old memories to locating true love and luck in lie, the combination of psychology and magic makes for a powerful force.

Plenty of magic books speak of witch's brews, but too few go into the specifics of their construction. New age Wiccan practitioners just starting out will thus welcome Patricia Telesco's Kitchen Witch's Guide To Brews And Potions (1564147908 $15.99), which offers spice-infused recipes for all kinds of potions. You needn't look for exotic ingredients, either: symbolic beverages contain juices and ordinary grocery-store fare. Susan G. Shumsky's Exploring Auras: Cleansing And Strengthening Your Energy Field (1564-148025, $14.99) goes beyond most New Age discussions of auras and their identification to address how to improve one's aura and energy. If you wish more energy, clarity and peace through such a process and believe that healing an aura can release troubling vibrations and free psychic energy, then the instructional lessons of Exploring Auras empowers and is the book for you.

The American History Shelf

Any who would understand history and life in Butte, Montana during the 1920s simply must have Mile High Mile Deep: it's more than just one man's memory; it's a solid first-hand observational account of life in early Butte, Montana. O'Malley was born in Portland but moved to Butte when he was eight, working the mines then becoming a respected journalist. His Mile High Deep is a strong memory which includes almost forty photos from the collections of the World Museum of Mining and the Butte-Silver Bow public Archives, blending local history with art to produce an outstanding account which fits as easily into the 'art' category as it does 'early Americana'.

Great West Books focuses on Northern California, distributing selected products from very small presses and providing some exceptional local histories which just wouldn't be seen otherwise. For example, Nilda Rego's Days Gone By In Contra Costa County, CA: Volume 1 (1889652-016, $15.95) and Volume 2 (1889652024, $15.95): these aren't your usual tourist destination guides, but fine memoirs which pack in stories of people and events in the early days of a San Francisco Bay Area county which rarely receives its own attention. Volume 1 covers people and events up to the 1930s; Volume 2 presents more stories and events to the 1950s. Nilda Rego was a newspaper reporter most of her life, working for many years on a local Contra Costa newspaper column of weekly local history. Hers is an outstanding set which provides ongoing reference and memories of days gone by to any with an interest in Contra Costa history. Malcolm E. Barker compiles and edits San Francisco Memoirs 1835-1851: Eyewitness Accounts Of The Birth Of A City (0930235-045, $16.95), gathering eyewitness accounts from hundreds of journals, letters and out of print books by people who lived in early San Francisco. Essays and commentary by Barker link the 44 narratives and present smooth transitions between. William Kostura's Russian Hill: The Summit 1853-1906 (0965640000, $17.95) provides a neighborhood history, following a unique set of families who rebuilt a neighborhood destroyed by an earthquake. Diaries, letters, memoirs, family photo albums and more provide a unique tribute to Russian Hill's residents and long history.

With new challenges to the Pledge of Allegiance taking place in modern times, it's important to understand the origins of the Pledge, and To The Flag: The Unlikely History Of The Pledge Of Allegiance provides this background, examining its original writing in 1892 and various challenges to its authority and style up to present times. From the schoolhouse flag movement and first use of the Pledge to its modern meaning to new immigrants, To The Flag should be on the shelves of any high school or public library strong in American history.

If you think you know American history, especially its early origins, think again: 1491: New Revelations Of The Mericas Before Columbus will challenge everything you've ever known about pre-Columbus America. New archaeological evidence has proven some of America's most strongly-held beliefs wrong: that in 1491 America was more populated than Europe, even boasting cities larger than any in Europe at the time; that the earliest Western Hemisphere cities were thriving before Egyptians built the pyramids, and that Native Americans transformed the land before Europeans even arrived. So much for 'pristine wilderness'. And so much for traditional history: 1491 defies it - and is a 'must' for any history buff.

An extensive review of Soviet-era archives contributes many previously unconsidered facts to Red Atom: Russia's Nuclear Power Program From Stalin To Today. In the 1950s it was the Russian dream to produce efficient, cheap nuclear energy: thirty years later Chernobyl changed the world. The history of the Soviet's use of nuclear power, its projects, and its setback after Chernobyl make for an intriguing history of a scientific and social disaster in the making.

The Dream Life
J. Hoberman
The New Press
38 Greene Street, New York NY 10013
www.thenewpress.com
1565849787 $19.95 1-800-233-4830

Here's a new cultural history of the Sixties - through the eye of the camera as it considers the social and political impact of movies and theater of the times. Using key Hollywood productions from Shampoo to Bonnie and Clyde, senior film critic at the Village Voice Hoberman provides a lively reconstruction of the politics behind the films, examining with actors and subjects with a critic's eye for detail. A fine history evolves which uses the film world as a reflection of cultural change.

New York real estate is sizzling hot, holding some of the most expensive condos and offices in the country: Author/editor Steven Gaines reveals the behind-the-scenes deals and influences of big-ticket properties in Manhattan in The Sky's The Limit: Passion And Property In Manhattan. From secret rules of co-op boards which limit who can buy and live in their establishments to elite buildings which have turned away some of the biggest celebrities, this is a fascinating history of Manhattan real estate - fascinating even for those with no New York connections.

If it's one weighty, definitive library reference you need to New York City's landmarks, make it Landmarks Of New York: An Illustrated Record Of The City's Historic Buildings: its scope and format can't be beat. Art and architectural libraries as well as New York City specialty collections will welcome documentation of over 1,100 buildings which have earned landmark status over the past forty years. A chronological arrangement guides readers through a wealth of building styles and types, from farmhouses and churches to mansions, with black and white photos of each accompanying descriptions, comments on style and design, listings of architects involved in the building's construction and redesign over the decades, and style descriptions. A 'must' for any serious architectural or New York history collection.

The heroine of Helen Hunt Jackson's 1884 novel Ramona started a trend of Ramona namings of landmarks which became part of many a tourist's journey to Southern California at the time. Surprisingly, Ramona Memories: Tourism And The Shaping Of Southern California is the first study to consider the influence of Jackson's fictional character and setting on the real world of Southern California. DeLyser examines the myth of Ramona in the regional tourist history, the establishment of attractions by fans of the novel, and tells of numerous Ramona enthusiasts who took elements of the novel and made them a part of their lives.

The Bay Area regional history titles published by Arcadia, part of their broader 'Images of America' regional histories, are simply marvelous: each book comes packed with vintage photos which form the foundation of local city and neighborhood coverages which are simply unavailable elsewhere. The detail is explicit and unusual, as in Richard Brandi's San Francisco's West Portal Neighborhoods (073-8529974), covering the adjacent neighborhoods of West Portal, Forest Hill and St. Francis Wood: areas of San Francisco well off the usual beaten tourist track. Author Brandi is himself a West Portal resident, and uses his knowledge to compliment a wonderful gathering of vintage images depicting the area's many changes. Each picture is clearly identified, dated, and provided appropriate historical background. Dr. William Lipsky's San Francisco's Panama-Pacific International Exposition (0738530093) is the item of choice if you wish to recreate the 1915 celebration of the opening of the Panama Canal in San Francisco. San Francisco historian Lipsky has written several others on the city: this gorgeous gathering of Pan-Pacific photos and memorabilia captures the relics and reminders of the great event which lasted 10 months and covered nearly the entire Marina District. Again, there's nothing quite like this available - packed with vintage photos and history. Look to the south of San Francisco and you'll find U.R. Sharma's Morgan Hill (073852977X), produced in conjunction with the Morgan Hill Historical Society and packed with images of a bygone era. Settled in the southern Santa Clara Valley by one Martin Murphy Sr. in 1945, Morgan Hill evolved from a family ranch to a popular rail stop, then a desirable suburb. Vast changes have turned Morgan Hill into a city: black and white photos tells of quite a different past. Look further south and you'll find Gary s. Breschini, Mona Gudgel and Trudy Haversat's Early Salinas (0738529931), the story of a central California town named for the saltwater slough that seeped in from MontereyBay. Salinas made its money on its farm produce, yet mountains isolated it from neighboring development. The authors, both archaeologists and teachers, are recognized authorities on Salinas and draw on the Monterey County Historical Society's vast holdings to present a thorough overview. Kent Seavey and the Heritage Society of Pacific Grove's Pacific Grove (0738529648) comes from the former curator of the California Historical Society who teaches architectural history at a nearby college: black and white photos document vintage homes, old commercial areas of the city, and local weddings and celebrations. These are treasures for any who live near these areas, are from these areas, or hold a special affection for local color and neighborhood coverages.

The Military Shelf

The latest addition to the outstanding "Elite Forces Operations" series, Commandos: Operation Chariot - The Raid On St. Nazaire by Jon Cooksey is the riveting and detailed story of a bold plan in March 1942 by the Allies to mount a large-scale commando raid on the Normandie dry dock at St. Nazaire which was in the grip of German occupation for the past two years. A heavy price in dead, wounded and captured was the cost of this vital mission which also saw the awarding of more than eighty decorations, including five VCS, bearing witness to the ferocity and courage of the commandos who took on an entrenched and powerful forces. No personal or academic library World War II European Theater military history collection can be considered complete without the inclusion of Commandos: Operation Chariot - The Raid On St. Nazaire.

U.S. Armor Camouflage And Markings World War II is an informative photo-documentary of markings and camouflage of American vehicles during the second world war. Illustrated with copious black-and-white photographs on every page and a handful of color images, U.S. Armor Camouflage And Markings World War II provides captions to each photograph along with brief essays and tables, such as a table that breaks down the meaning of different digits in registration numbers and bumper codes. A brief, fact-filled guide valuable both as visual reference and as a fascinating glimpse into a piece of military history for lay readers.

Over a hundred photos and special diagrams packs SAS And Elite Forces: The Elite Military Units Of The World, recounting the story of the special military forces of today, their origins, equipment, training, and roles. Military history readers receive thorough coverage on the relationship between special forces and the regular armies of which they are members, along with chapters which explores what it takes to be an elite forces member. From Nato forces and Warsaw Pact forces to other nations of the world, SAS And Elite Forces is a fine overview.

The Geeks Of War
John Edwards
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0814408524 $24.00 amacombooks.org

Military technologies of modern times may be viewed as primitive tomorrow: that's the message of The Greeks Of War: The Secretive Labs And Brilliant Minds Behind Tomorrow's Warfare Technologies. New military techniques are born in not just government labs, but private and academic labs as well: author Edwards gained access to individuals at these institutions and conducted interviews with the scientists, analysts and program directors involved in battlefield technology. From how weapons are developed to other lines of wartime technology, Geeks Of War offers fine analysis of the next generation of weapons and communications systems.

Ross E. Harlan served as an Intelligence Officer and Executive Officer in the 323rd Bomb Group during the European campaigns against the German forces during the bitter years of conflict during World War II. Harlan's personal eye-witness story begins in the summer of 1942 at MacDill Field, Tampa, Florida where the pilots first learned to master their temperamental B-26 bombers. Over water flights began during a frigid winter at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, then the air group was assigned to England for final training, eventually operating in the European Theater of Operations from three Royal Air Force Bases (Horham, Earls Colne, Beaulieu). Their first combat mission against an important marshalling rail yard at Abbeville in occupied France was a success. During their first six months of air combat, the 323rd Bomb Group flew 69 missions, dropping 2,1666 tons of bombs, and suffered their first losses. The Group provided essential cover on D-Day, and with the invasion of France, moved their base of operations to the Continent in August of 1944, becoming more active than ever, undertaking 43 missions in the single month of March 1945 targeting railroads, marshalling years, oil storage dumps, airfields, ordinance depots, and contributing to the rapid advance of ground troops across France and Belgium toward Germany. A Lt. Colonel, Ross Harlan's informed and informative text is nicely supplemented with news clippings, military documents, obituaries, and a lengthy, revealing letter by one of his special friends who was an outstanding combat pilot in the Group. Strikes: 323rd Bomb Group In World War II is a welcome and invaluable contribution to the growing field of World War II memoirs and autobiographies.

The Business Shelf

Short-term profits needn't be the sole indication of business health, as the co-founder of a thirty-year-old, employee-owned design company on Martha's Vineyard demonstrates in The Company We Keep: Reinventing Small Business For People, Community, And Place. Abrams here explores how business can be used as a force for cultural and social change in a community, setting forth eight foundation principles of change which define his South Mountain Company's work and vision and how they were achieved. Chapters survey a range of issues, from encouraging workplace democracy and balancing multiple bottom lines to practicing community-supportive business techniques and redefining measures of success. An exceptional, insightful guide for socially conscious businesses.

The Travel Shelf

Even as the face of British Columbia is changing, artist Michael Kluckner is capturing a vanishing region in watercolors, as best he can. Vanishing British Columbia uses words and images to examine ethnic sites and diverse roadside towns and worlds. Historic towns, houses, railways, and more are given strong social and historical treatment in a moving tribute to a vanishing world.

There's a lot to do in South Australia: so much that it deserves a book of its own separate from just a generic travel guide to the entire country - and Adelaide & South Australia serves just this purpose, allowing the visitor to focus on the region's many offerings. Excellent small maps accompany clear descriptions of accommodations, eating, sightseeing, and natural wonders. With its information-packed pages, it's a 'must' for any destination-oriented traveler planning a visit to the region; especially for those seeking more depth than the usual Australia-wide coverage can offer.

Two fun state-by-state coverages of offbeat and unusual destination choices by travel guide expert Andrew F. Wood will appeal to vacationers seeking something truly different. Road Trip America (188-8054743, $14.95) celebrates unusual roadside attractions across the country, from the bizarre Unusual Collections and Miniature Towns of Louisiana which houses a 22-foot 'bassigator' to a bed and breakfast located in a tree house in Oregon. Motel America: A State-By-State Tour Guide To Nostalgic Stopovers (1888054913, $14.95) features old-time classic hotels from America's nearly-forgotten years. Colorful ads and contemporary color photos blend with whimsical descriptions of motel attributes and owner personalities. Both are fun collections of pieces of yesterday which have been caught in a time warp, to be presented to modern travelers.

David M. Wyman is a professional photographer and freelance writer based in Los Angeles, and has published articles and photos about his local area in many places: his Backroads Of Southern California: Your Guide To Southern California's Most Scenic Backroad Adventures blends color photos with maps and insights into Southern California scenes not normally featured in competing, more mainstream travel guides. From the railroad legacy of the Tehachapi Mountains to a little-taken exit to the lovely, less urban See Canyon Road, this is a 'must' for any Southern California visitor who would explore the back roads.

The Gardening Shelf

From a history of fountains and garden fountain design to installation procedures and creating auxiliary streams and water courses, The Super Simple Guide To Waterfalls & Fountains For Your Garden Pond comes packed with ideas for building the right type of pond, then maintaining it. The inclusion of plenty of photos and drawings and step-by-step review of options makes for an exceptionally easy translation from book to finished project.

Southern African Wild Flowers: Jewels Of The Veld is a coffee table book that presents the reader with a stunningly visual survey of the diverse landscapes of windflowers that South Africa has to offer. Each individual chapter focuses upon a specific region, highlighting and showcasing the most beautiful, interesting, and unusual plants occurring there. Beginning at the Zambezi River, this "book bound expedition" continues through the splendors of the Cape fynbos, then northwards, to conclude with the parched "thirstlands" of the west. The gorgeous full-color images by botanical photographer Colin Patterson-Jones is the perfect complement to research botanist's John Manning informed and informative text about the plants, their origins, their interactions with other living organisms, and their remarkable adaptations to sometimes hostile environments. Southern African Wild Flowers is especially commended to the attention of botanists, horticulturalists, landscapers, and adventurous gardeners!

The Computer Shelf

How can you tune your new Blackberry wireless to get advanced jobs completed, such as synchronizing data with your PC, managing appointments and tasks, and turning on the firewall? It helps to have Blackberry In A Snap, which covers the BlackBerry 7100 series and offers a teach-yourself workbook format lending to tweaking and do-it-yourself programming. From downloading ring tones to using Bluetooth, Blackberry In A Snap makes BlackBerry a snap to program and integrate with existing systems.

With so many computer books on the market it's not surprising that many duplicate between topics; but what IS surprising is to see two which stand relatively alone. Carla Rose, photographer and Photoshop author, tells how to scan photos to supplement scrapbook efforts in Scrapbooking With Adobe Photoshop Elements 3 (0789734117, $24.99). There are chapters on resizing and cropping photos, colorizing black and white photos, creating panoramic views or collages, and more. The focus on typical scrapbooking needs lends an element of specialized focus to this blend of digital and traditional scrapbooking techniques. Bill Jelen and Michael Alexander's Pivot Table Data Crunching (0789734354, $29.99) focuses entirely on using pivot tables: an advanced, powerful Excel feature rarely given its very own coverage. A pivot table will help summarize 50,000 rows of data in 30 seconds with a few clicks: Pivot Table Data Crunching covers all the options and basics, applying formulas and techniques to real-world business needs such as creating summary reports and filtering customers or topics by productivity. Both are excellent guides.

In Cisco Router Firewall Security, computer security expert Richard Deal provides truly indepth, step-by-step coverage on just how to configure a Cisco router to secure access to it. Cisco Router Firewall Security deftly explains how to use IOS routers as a firewall solution for protecting a data network from outsiders, especially hackers. Each part of Cisco Router Firewall Security addresses a specific type of technology or security issue and covers the IOS features both old and new that can be used to implement each security feature. Cisco Router Firewall Security is an indispensable instructional reference.

Charles River's technical, weighty guides are powerful picks. John R. Vacca's Computer Forensics: Computer Crime Scene Investigation 2nd Edition (1584503890, $49.95), for example, comes from a computer security official with NASA who packs in over 800 pages of detail on how hackers and criminals use computers as weapons. An updated book/cd package provides an overview of computer forensics, from information security issues to how computer crimes are investigated. Exercises, case studies, and crime examples make Computer Forensics a practical manual. Danny Kodieck's Mathematics And Physics For Programmers (158450-3300, $49.95) uses game development to present math and physics concepts, includes a companion CD-ROM with simulations and even source code, and uses pseudo-code to illustrate topics. These approaches make Mathematics And Physics For Programmers much more accessible than most, lending practical value and applications-oriented approaches to math formulas and physics. Steve Rabin edits Introduction To Game Development (1584503777, $69.95), a weighty text based on the curriculum guidelines of the IGDA and the first to examine all aspects of the theory and applications of game development and design. It lends to use either as the classroom text or as supplemental college-level reading: a comprehensive overview accompanied by a detailed CD-ROM holding all animations, documents and demos referenced in the text makes for a very detailed presentation packed with tutorials and source code, while almost thirty leading industry game developers and programmers contribute technical chapters. A highly recommended pick, indeed. Herbert H. Thompson and Scott G. Chase's Software Vulnerability Guide (1584503580, $49.95) comes from a security director and a security architect, drawing upon their combined expertise to consider techniques developers need to use to produce secure code in modern software. Developers and testers receive both tools and assessments of tools designed to help recognize and prevent common vulnerabilties in source code. Commentary and code examples pack a guide which includes a CD-ROM with source code and many tools described within. The second edition of M. Tim Jones' AI Application Programming (1584504218, $59.95) also joins the 'Programming Series' of technical guides to cover the latest AI concepts, from neural networks and intelligent agents to search algorithms and rules-based logic systems. The CD-ROM included contains all commented source-code in C, supplementing introductory discussions.

Any interested in computer databases in general and relationship theory in particular will find C.J. Date's Database In Depth: Relational Theory For Practitioners (0596100124 $29.95) to be the perfect meld between theory and real-world applications. Relational models have little to do with relating tables: they are multidimensional and multifaceted, and different designs offer different options and opportunities. Users working with real-world database situations will find they shouldn't be without Database In Depth. Andrew Davison's Killer Game Programming In Java (0596007302, $44.95) is another reference no game programmer should be without: there's been a traditional lack of support for Java high-end graphics and documentation, which Killer Game Programming In Java deftly remedies. No list coverage, this 968-page tome is an extensive reference covering modern gaming requirements from sprite coding, laths, and more. Even networked games, and 2D and 3D games alike, are revealed in this 'killer' reference, a 'must' for the serious game programmer. Ken Bluttman's Access Hacks: Tips & Tools For Wrangling Your Data (0596009240, $24.95) is for database users migrating to Microsoft Access. Learn how to improve Access by customizing its features, how to use expressions and wildcards to aid in the sorting progress, and how to write code using Access's advanced features.

The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Every city holds some hidden treasures, from old coins to hidden money caches and antiques some may see as 'junk. Michael Chaplan is an 'urban treasure hunter' who has a background in anthropology and has pursued treasure hunting for over twenty years. His intriguing guide covers everything from tools and tricks of the trade to how to turn a treasure hunter's hobby into extra income. From reading an archaeological site report to viewing a city park with a new eye to locating treasure, Urban Treasure Hunter: A Practical Handbook For Beginners tells it all.

KP Books
700 East State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001
www.fwpubs.com

KP Publications (formerly Krause Publications) regularly publishes exceptional antiques and collectibles references, choosing popular yet specific topics so that collectors have narrow references geared to their special interests. You have to be an Elvis collector, for example, to enjoy the pocket-sized tote edited by Paul Kennedy, Warman's Elvis Field Guide (0896-891364, $12.99): this take-it-along pocket or purse guide covers every type of Elvis record music collectible, from 45s to LPs, but over half the book provides an accompanying, important history of Elvis' film and music career, complete with many color photos. This fact makes Warman's Elvis Field Guide a collector's item in and of itself and a 'must' for any Elvis fan. Kyle Husfloen edits Antique Trader Stoneware And Blue & White Pottery Price Guide (0896891356, $19.99), a guide to the glazed crocks, jugs and urns used for food storage in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This full-color reference gathers some 1,000 color photos of the stoneware and include references to manufacturer's marks and current prices in its some 1,5000 listings, making it an essential guide for any collecting the stoneware. General collectors who haunt garage sales and flea markets will want to keep the latest, 39th edition of Warman's Antiques & Collectibles Price Guide (0873499905, $21.99), edited by Warman's editor Ellen T. Schroy, in their cars or close at hand. Now sporting almost 1,800 color photos, this updated edition offers the latest prices and descriptions for over 50,000 items, ranging from furniture and military collectibles to pottery and puzzles. With its many small color photos and descriptions, it brings excellent organization across the board to a range of antiques and collectibles. Coin collectors will surely already know Krause's weighty coin catalogs: the 33rd edition of the 2006 Standard Catalog Of World Coins is now on the market (0873499875, $55.00), and it packs in the price guides in well over 2,000 pages. No color here, but the coins don't need color representation, and there are black and white photos throughout. But this is more than a weighty ID guide: various charts, explanations of grading terminology which affects coin values so greatly, conversion charts for dates, a mint index, and much more pack in updated values with historical notes and pages of reference detail.

Antoinette Marlins has many other gemstone guides to her name and is an expect on gem identification and sales, making Jewelry & Gems At Auction: The Definitive Guide To Buying & Selling At The Auction House & On Internet Auction Sites a 'must' for any serious collector. From distinguishing auction buying techniques from other types of gem purchasing to bidding on different types of gems, understanding jewelry periods and designs, and avoiding common auction pitfalls, Jewelry & Gems At Auction is simply packed with valuable tips.

These detailed references are essential working price guides for an collector working in the genre, offering exceptionally high-quality color photos and discussions. Hubert & Clara McHugh's Goebel Salt & Pepper Shakers (0764322281, $29.95) narrows the focus to those shakers produced by Goebel of Germany from the 1920s through the 1980s. Nearly 600 photos display the shakers while discussions of artists, identification numbers, manufacture dates and current values help collectors identify and price Goebel sets. Wendy Mullen's The Comprehensive Guide To Chocolate Molds: Objects Of Art & Artist's Tools (0764322788, $49.95) more than just a collector's price guide, Wendy Mullen, chocolate maker for 15 years, delves into the history of antique chocolate molds and their design and production, packing over 1300 photos of such antiques with discussions of all kinds of molds. Topped by an interview with the great-granddaughter of one of the best German mold specialists in history, Anton Reiche, The Comprehensive Guide To Chocolate Molds is unparalleled in depth and detail: there's simply nothing like it on the market, past or present. Dona Z. Meilach's Teapots: Makers & Collectors (0764322141, $49.95) covers all the new teapots from whimsical and non-functional works of art to practical and collectible teapots. Much more than a price guide alone, however, Teapots: Makers & Collectors packs in hundreds of full-page color photos and discussions of unique designs, materials, crafts. Artists in 14 countries are represented in a review which produces both a history and a guide for contemporary collectors.

Collector Books publishes a host of specialty references which hold broad appeal for both novice and neo-professional collectors alike. B.J. Summers' Pocket Guide To Coca-Cola Identifications Current Values, 5th Edition (1574324667, $12.95) packs in the latest updated values to notable Coke collectibles, from china and toys to calendars and signs. Judith Scoggin Gridley, Joan Reed Kiplinger and Jessie Gridley McClure's Vintage Fabrics - Identification & Value Guide (1574324-802, $19.95) focuses on all kinds of fabric, from cotton and linens to silk and wool. Especially invaluable are tips on 'what to look for/what to avoid', which outline common fabric problems which affect their value. The 24th edition of the to-seller Schroeder Antiques Price Guide (1574324780, $14.95) holds the latest updated prices in a thick guide consisting of listings by almost 400 experts in their fields. From games and maps to Red Wing pottery, a handy A-Z encyclopedic listing makes it easy to quickly locate collectibles - important in a guide listing over 50,000 of them. Bob and Sharon Huxford's Collector's Encyclopedia Of Fiesta, 10th Edition (1574324373, $24.95) packs in the color photos as it describes the latest values and collectable status of Fiesta and other colored dinnerware. From new Fiesta settings and pieces to Riviera and other ware, newspaper ads, and more, this encyclopedia is 'everything Fiesta', going beyond any other. Gene & Cathy Florence's Florences' Ovenware From The 192os To The Present Identification & Value Guide (1574324497, $24.95) packs in brands from Pyrex and Federal to Jeannette. Bright color photos, side bars of prices for different sizes, original packaging where available, and discussions of patterns, box sets and more make Florences' Ovenware a 'must' for any collector. Kyle Coroneos' The Complete Guide To Corning Ware & Visions Cookware (1574324683, $19.95) provides a price guide packed with color photos of Corning's lines of cookware. Some may not believe such relatively modern lines are already collectible pieces: just look at the prices to discover many pieces are already 'out of print' and collectible. Jo Cunningham's Collector's Encyclopedia Of American Dinnerware: Identification And Values (1574324292, $29.95) proved so useful it appears in a second updated edition to reflect the latest prices and pieces for collectors. Pieces are arranged by company but have large, bright color photos for easy identification. Neila and Tom Bredehoft and Jo & Bob Sanford's Glass Toothpick Holders Identifcation & Values (15-7432456X, $29.95) also appears in its second, updated edition to cover glass toothpick holders from a wide range of manufacturers. Color photos and the latest prices make identification and valuing very easy. All are excellent references. Brad Lockwood's The Case Cutlery Dynasty Texted XX (15743234632, $19.95) focuses on the Case family, sharing family stories of a cutlery dynasty which made their fortune developing and selling American cutlery. This may diverge from Collector Books' usual focus on price guides, but it's a welcome and exciting diversion providing a rare history into a family whose name has come to be associated with knives since the Civil War. Adding black and white vintage photos throughout, The Case Cutlery Dynasty Tested XX is essential historical background reading for any avid collector

For something different in the world of reference collectibles, try to fine references which offer lasting value. Jan Foulke's 16th Blue Book Dolls & Values (087588-6671, $19.95) enjoys lovely photos by Howard Foulke as it provides a valuable doll price guide updated in its 16th edition to cover manufacturers of bisque, china, wax, wood, cloth and more dolls from the 19th and early 20th centuries. An index of mold numbers and manufacturer and doll name lends easy access to a color photo-filled back which includes maker's marks for each manufacturer. Sanjiv Purba and Sandy Sicilia's Comic Related Collectibles: Survival & Price Guide (0875886-558, $19.95) provides a companion to the first price guide and continues to examine collectible toys, oddities and others based on comic book characters. Action figures, spy rings, drinking glasses and more are covered with an eye to not just values, but proper storage techniques, where to buy and sell them, and more. The Definitive Guide To Collecting Black Dolls by Debbie Behan Garrett (0875886531, $27.95) provides the first and only black dolls book completely published in full color to cover both vintage and modern black dolls. Whether they be cloth, rubber, or wood or plastic, this one-stop collector's guide covers them all, pairing a handy price guide with tips on buying and selling.

The Criminology Shelf

The concept of criminal profiling, once alien to the ordinary American, is today a part of our daily lives thanks to television shows and news programs, and Profilers: Leading Investigators Take You Inside The Criminal Mind compiles articles from fifteen internationally recognized homicide investigators, many of whom have contributed some of the basics to the art of profiling criminals. From dealing with hostage situations and murder to creating psychological profiles and geographic profiles, Profilers provides plenty of inside detail and will appeal not only to fans of true crime and murder mysteries, but those involved in law enforcement at many levels.

The Literary Shelf

Professor of English and internationally respected student of C.S. Lewis' work Peter Schakel presents The Way Into Narnia, a guide written especially for first-time readers of Lewis' beloved classics of children's literature. Suggesting that the best way to enter Narnia is to read the Chronicles of Narnia as fairy tales, The Way Into Narnia walks the reader through each of the seven books and concludes the tour with a section of annotations meant to clarify unfamiliar words and unusual written passages. Especially recommended for lay readers and beginning literature scholars seeking greater familiarity with the series, The Way Into Narnia is a highly recommended supplement for getting the most out of Lewis' immortal stories.

Discourses On Love, Marriage, And Transgression In Medieval And Early Modern Literature is a collection of scholarly essays by learned authors discussing an extensive variation of period literary perspectives toward friendship, marriage, adultery, domestic violence, individual happiness, the breaking of promises and vows, the destructive side of sexuality, and more. Individual essays include "Accusations of Gay and Straight Sexual Transgression", "Caucer's Vows and How They Break: Transgression in The Manciple's Tale", and "Constructing New Women in Early Modern English Literature". Each topic is dissected from a multiplicity of literary, historical, and social viewpoints. A uniquely vivid and daring examination of love, sex, and culture as reflected in medieval writing.

Now in a second significantly revised and expanded edition, Victorian Fantasy is a discourse of the writing that flourished in direct response to the social and intellectual constrictions of "Victorianism". Author and library director Stephen Prickett explores how Victorian writers used nonrealistic techniques such as nonsense, dreams, visions, and fantastic world settings, to extend understanding of this world. Focusing on six writers - Lear, Carroll, Kingsley, MacDonald, Kipling, and Nesbit, Victorian Fantasy traces how their work developed, how they influenced one another, and how their fantasy came to question the rigid ideology of Victorian society. A thoughtful and measured analysis of literature's voice in period history.

What A Book Can Do
Priscilla Coit Murphy
University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
www.umpress.usmass.edu
1558494766 $34.95 1-800-488-1144

In 1962 the appearance of naturalist Rachel Carson's Silent Spring not only sparked debate on pesticide and ecology issues; it helped change the nature and effectiveness of preservation efforts around the world. It first appeared as a magazine serialization, but its book version really reached out to larger audiences. Priscilla Coit Murphy's What A Book Can Do: The Publication And Reception Of Silent Spring isn't just another analysis of the book itself: it's a review of the publishing history of the Houghton Mifflion edition and the prior New Yorker serialization, incorporating the views of her editors as well as Carson herself - and her opponents. An exceptional history which is strongly recommended for any reader of Silent Spring.

While not a mystery, dedicated fans of Agatha Christie's works won't want to miss Andrew Eames' The 8:55 To Baghdad: From London To Iraq On The Trail Of Agatha Christie: it's the perfect nonfiction accompaniment for Christie fans. In 1928 Christie was a thirty-something single mother who changed her mind from taking a Caribbean holiday and instead proceeded to Iraq. Eames followed her journeys, taking his own trip from London to Baghdad and describing the places and events which appeared in her fiction. What emerges blends a travelogue with insights into Christie's stories and should delight both armchair travelers and Agatha fans alike.

The Writing/Publishing Shelf

The latest installment in the "A-Z Legal Series" from Capital Books, Author Law A-Z: A Desktop Guide To Writers' Rights And Responsibilities packs the collective wisdom of author-lawyers Sallie Randolph, Stacy Davis, Anthony Elia and Karen Dustman into plain terms for lay readers - and writers! Author Law A-Z is organized like an encyclopedia, with A-Z entries of common legal and writing industry terms or issues that every author should know, from "abridgement" and "acceptable manuscript" to "young adult books" and "Zapruder film", which denotes a landmark legal case about film rights concerning the home video film that accidentally documented the assassination of JFK. In addition to the entries, numerous tips, tricks, techniques, and warnings for the aspiring author in a legally complex world, from a sample demand letter (as written to a vanity print-on-demand publisher masquerading as a traditional publisher) to a sample complaint for copyright infringement, advice for what to say when one's editor calls, and much more. Enthusiastically recommended for spot research or simple cover-to-cover reading in order to grasp valuable basic lessons of the writing and publishing business.

The 2006 updated Writer's Markets have hit the stands, and whether you're a library catering to would-be authors and writers or a writer needing constant reference for new jobs, they are 'must' purchases both individually and collectively, representing industry-standard writer's guides which will receive repeated value and attention throughout the year. The weighty 2006 Writer's Market (1582973946, $29.99) appears in its 85th annual edition, completely revised and updated to include over 600 new listings for book publishers, magazines, trade journals and more. Not only do new listings expand the size, but exclusive interviews with agents and publishing professionals add value to listings which include small and large press listings for paying sources. For more clearly defined sources, choose either the 2006 Poet's Market (1582974004, $24.99), holding over 200 new listings to its 1,800 listings for presses, journals, workshops and contests, the 2006 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market (1582973970, $24.99), with its 200 new listings, or the 2006 Children's Writer's And Illustrator's Market (15829734020, $24.99), appearing in its 18th updated edition featuring over 800 listings total. And don't forget the 2006 Guide To Literary Agents (1582973997, $24.99), with over 500 listings to its 15th revised edition covering all kinds of agencies, agents, and special promoter contacts. All are cornerstones of any serious collection.

Intended as an instructional particularly for publishers and anyone involved in typographical work, Book Typography is a no-nonsense, informative tour of the definitions, history, and current usage of various typefaces, styles, spacing techniques and much more. A wealth of notes elaborate upon the text, as it walks the reader through such topics as "The school of close spacing", "Mise-en-page etc.", and much more. A handful of black and white illustrations, sample typefaces, and sample pages showcase the ideas and techniques discussed. An excellent introduction and well-rounded resource to the print technology of typography.

Whether you're a satirical writer or produce outright comedy, there's a market for funny writing, from humorous articles to sketches. Article writers will relish Gedne Perrett, himself one of the top comedy writers going, in Damn! That's Funny! which tells not just how to 'write funny', but how to market one's humor to the right audience. Understand what you want to say, how to best say it, and how to sell it effectively in this guide to producing and publishing outstanding humor.

Self-Publishing Fiction: From Manuscript To Bookstore And Beyond is a step-by-step guide to publishing one's novel with no more than a manuscript, a computer, and some hard work - mountains of money not required! Simple instructions to transform one's manuscript into a printer-ready format, design a cover, select a printer, obtain ISBN and Library of Congress numbers, register copyright, get one's book reviewed and get onto bookstore shelves, maximize on-line sales, and much more fill this extremely practical how-to guide. Packed cover-to-cover with "hands-on" information offering straight talk to difficult problems, from how to approach Barnes & Noble and other big bookstore chains to how to get picked up by a distributor, Self-Publishing Fiction is an enthusiastically recommended "must-have" for anyone determined to present a story to the reading public without breaking the bank.

Turning Your Life's Stories Into A Literary Memoir: A Memoir People Actually Want To Read is a straightforward "how-to" guide to skillfully preserving one's memories in book form. Emphasizing writing tips, tricks, and techniques that will absorb readers into what you have to say, chapters cover the definition of a memoir, literary techniques in story structure, craft and style to add one's unique imprint to writing, common pitfalls with dialogue, sentence construction, or background research, how to spark one's memories, and more guide the reader to write in a professional manner. A final chapter walks lay people through the simplest basics of how to get published, whether self-publishing, e-book, online publishing, private publishing, or traditional publishing. A short and simple guide that effectively covers the basics of memoir writing and publishing.

The Needlecraft Shelf

An unusual organization by fabric types, from knits to openwork and ribbed fabric, offers the first clue that The Art Of Knitting: Inspirational Stitches, Textures And Surfaces is not your average knitter's project handbook. Another clue: over 600 color illustrations along with hundreds of diagrams to gather representative samples of hundreds of ways of working with different types of wools. Patterns serve as the point here, encouraging knitters to move beyond to experiment with techniques based on the nature of the fabric. Stitches are matched to textile properties and different yarns encourage unique yarn combinations and knitting techniques. Even the most experienced knitter will find plenty of new concepts to learn in The Art Of Knitting.

Fabric collectors as well as practicing quilters will surely relish Dating Fabrics 2: A Color Guide 1950-2000: for here are many keys to fabric origins, discussions of quilting and clothing trends, actual size prints to aid in accurate identification, grouped by date, color and style, and much more. Blending a history with photos which are easily compared to fabrics through lay-flat spiral binding and a hardcover edge for easy filing, Dating Fabrics 2 is the fabric collector's essential reference.

Creating still lifes in quilts is becoming more recognized as a fine quilt art and Margaret Cusack's Picture Your World In Applique: Creating Unique Images With Fabric is the place to turn to for instruction. Use memories and pictures from life and transform them into lovely appliqued pictures with a guide to creating machine-stitched applique from realistic scenes. From selecting pictures to cutting and stitching fabrics, Picture Your World In Applique covers all the moves.

Fan makers now have a range of lace-making techniques and a profile of over seventy fans, with 20 patterns for making them, in Ann Coller's Lace Fans (0713-489316 $21.95), which provides a narrowed focus on an unusual type of fan construction. Add a history of these fans, a discussion of different styles of lace fans, and insights on designs and patterns, and you have an invaluable and unique sourcebook packed with both patterns and color photos. Constance Howard's The Constance Howard Book Of Stitches (071-3489383, $19.95) comes from embroiderer Howard, who uses her extensive embroidery knowledge to present an original approach to stitch. A few simple steps can provide new textures, patterns and effects, just from changing scale or pacing. This joins the 'Batsford Classic Embroidery' series, presenting the work of a woman who was a primary force in bring embroidery to the fashion and art world. Black and white stitch examples pack an intriguing guide.

Can the basic sweater pattern be changed into gorgeous, quick-knit garments which are fun to wear? Yes: especially if they can be transformed through different yarn types and pattern stitches, as in Perfectly Brilliant Knits. Lovely pullovers, tunics, and even the usually-dull cardigan sweater can be changed radically through pattern and yarn choice: these knits are anything but ordinary.

The Nautical Shelf

Photojournalist-scuba diver John Christopher Fine has explored and documented the sunken fleets of the world for most of his adult life, and his adventures and maritime expert lends to an exciting review of some of his best finds in Lost On The Ocean Floor: Diving The World's Ghost Ships. From ancient shipwreck legends to more modern luxury liner remains, Lost On The Ocean Floor blends history and adventure in stories hard to put down.

Viking Press
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014
www.penguin.com

Kristoffer A. Garin's Devils On The Deep Blue Sea: The Dreams, Schemes And Showdowns That Built America's Cruise-ship Empires (0670034185, $24.95) provides a lively survey of cruise shipping, from its inception to its near-demise in the 1950s, and its rebirth as a floating luxury hotel in modern times. The story of an ill-conceived venture which became a rich industry makes for an intriguing story of business change, controversies, and adaptation. The result is a varied history of business, marketing strategies, consumer travel trends, and much more, making Devils On The Deep Blue Sea a fine, intriguing read not easily pegged. Rebecca Solnit's A Field Guide To Getting Lost (0670034215, $21.95) discusses experience and getting lost in the everyday, examining how people move from cities to wilderness, how they search for sense of self in an uncertain life, and how her own explorations in the world have changed her life. At once an autobiography and introspective examination, A Field Guide To Getting Lost surveys connections, ancestry, history, and modern culture in a personal odyssey of exploration.

In 2001 an industrial fishing trawler went down in the Arctic and sank so quickly there was no time for the crew to even call for help. All aboard were killed - leaving behind no trace of the cause, no witnesses, and a mystery involving a rapid sinking under calm seas. Journalist Hugo Kugiya's investigation is as much a probe of the modern fishing industry's controversial operations as it is a review of the disaster itself, making 58 Degrees North: The Mysterious Sinking Of The Arctic Rose an adventure in politics and survival alike. Absorbing and well detailed.

Author Tom Cunliffe has run his own gaffers all over the world, and his Hand, Reef & Steer: Traditional Sialing Skills For Classic Boats (1574092030, $24.95) is one of the best guides to handling the classic sailboat. From handling sails and adjusting for heavy and light air sailing to different types of sails and their special requirements, Hand, Reef And Steer is packed with specific advice based on decades of experience. John C. Payne's Understanding Boat Corrosion, Lightning Protection And Interference (1574091-999, $13.95) comes from an authority on marine electrical systems and electronics and provides an in-depth coverage of corrosion, how to avoid it, and how to protect your boat. From basic tips to improve grounding to sidestrike protection, plenty of easy discussions and practical tips apply. Peter Hahne's Sail Trim: Theory And Practice (1574091980, $19.95) tells how to understand sail trim tactics under all kinds of wind conditions and rig types. From sail cloth and the right trim for different sails to obtaining maximum efficiency from a sail, color photos pepper a simple introduction to all kinds of sails.

In 1956 one of the most luxurious 20th century pleasure ship collided with the Stockholm off New England and sank. Maritime expert Bill Miller's pictorial history presents nearly two hundred rare vintage black and white photos of the interior of the ship and the ship in port, along with its twin the Cristoforo Colombo and other similar luxury liners. The result's a striking and memorable visual tribute to some of the greatest ships in history, with plenty of text revealing background history.

In December 1955 the stormy rescue of a disabled freighter by the Victoria, BC salvage tug Sudbury made headlines around the world: a feat which was to repeat year after year as the Sudbury and Sudbury II made dramatic rescues through typhoons and shipwrecks alike. High Seas, High Risk is the saga of the two salvage tugs which became famous for risky deep-sea rescues and long-distance towing; in the processing telling of an owner who began with nothing and turned two little tugs into a challenging, successful business. True life adventure at its best.

The Philosophy Shelf

Responsibility And Judgment is a collection of previously unpublished writings from the last decade of the life of editor and World War II survivor Hannah Arendt (1906-1975). Chapters wrestle with complex moral issues and philosophical questions both in general and in relation to specific events such as judicial trials of World War II criminals and the repercussions that America's failed war effort in Vietnam had on the nation's policies and psyche. Written in clear, no-nonsense terms, Responsibility And Judgment is as accessible to lay readers as it is to philosophers, and offers its insights free from the constraints of political ideology. Highly recommended.

Gestures Of Ethical Life: Reading Holderlin's Question Of Measure After Heidegger is a scholarly, serious-minded philosophical dialogue with texts by historical thinkers including Plato, Holderlin, Heidegger, Marx, Levinas, and more about the question of evaluating right and wrong, good and bad, ethics and justice. Professor of Philosophy David Kleinberg-Levin argues persuasively that the question of the appropriate measure and calculation for ethics and justice, and even the question of whether an appropriate measure and calculation for ethics and justice is possible, has become increasingly urgent in the modern world pressured by globalization and steadily advancing technology. An in-depth consideration of the normative problematic of measure, and its potential for use, misuse, manipulation, and social cohesiveness in a diverse world.

Open Court's titles specialize in and emphasize philosophy and Movies And The Meaning Of Life: Philosophers Take On Hollywood keeps with the strong intent of linking philosophical concepts to everyday popular culture. The meaning of life is the most basic of questions, and many a movie director has examined such meaning in their films. Movies And The Meaning Of Life contrasts these modern films of recent years and tackles topics ranging from how films help define identity and reality to how they illustrate interpersonal interactions. An excellent achievement.

The Railroading Shelf

Are you a train fan who wants to locate tourist railroads and plan museum vacations around them? Then you couldn't go wrong with the latest edition of Tourist Trains. The Empire State Railway Museum has been publishing this guide for many years now: it's satisfying to see its pages growing, here providing over 500 rail-related attractions open to the public. Learn about the rides, hours, fees, directions - and even get coupons for discounts on tickets. If you're a rail fan, Tourist Trains is a 'must', updated annually to reflect much new information.

The Self-Help Shelf

How can brain function be improved to contribute to improved memory? Dr. Gary Small provides a surprisingly simple 14-day plan to keep memory alive in The Memory Prescription: Dr. Gary Small's 14-Day Plan To Keep Your Brain And Body Young. Try the questionnaire which helps you rate memory function, or try some of the mental exercises. There's plenty of room for changing and customizing Dr. Small's plan -- an important key to improving individual needs.

The Sports Shelf

Designed and photographed by relatives of Mel Knoke, the first inductee into the Packers Hall of Fame, Green, Gold, And Proud: Portraits, Stories, And Traditions Of The Greatest Fans In The World is a stunning photo documentary of and tribute to fans of Wisconsin's football team, the Green Bay Packers. Exploring the enthusiasm of fans who come to the Packers' training camp and summer practices, and filled with candid essays and testimonials as well as gorgeous full- page color photography of fans at home or dressed up in pro-Packers regalia, Green, Gold, and Proud is unquestionably a labor of love, revealing the bonds of excitement and enthusiasm that come from cheering the efforts of a beloved home state team. An accompanying 80-minute DVD chronicles the history of Lambeau Field, sharing the players, games, coaches, and moments that have marked the Packer's path to victory. A visually appealing giftbook, perfect for Packers fans.

Any avid football fan will want to have Profootball Prospectus 2005: Statistics, Analysis, And Insight For The Information Age. From team and player ratings which correct for situation and opponent to a statistical set of tools to compare players and teams, exclusive predictions from pros, and essays on past seasons, Profootball Prospectus is packed with charts of facts and insights on players and teams. A 'must' for any with more than a casual interest in football.

During any given nine-inning baseball game over a thousand silent instructions are given between players and from umpires to coaches. You've seen the hand signals - now understand their meaning in the first examination of their history, evolution and methods. Baseball games are surveyed past and present to gain a fine chronology of player signals.

Steroids and sports are in the news more and more, especially in baseball: despite the news, few coverages examine how steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs work and how they affect athletes and players. Will Carroll is an acknowledged authority on baseball medicine, and his coverage in The Juice explores legal supplements, illegal drugs, baseball law and performance standards alike. A 'must' for any involved in the sport's finer issues.

The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Discovering The Maltese Falcon And Sam Spade is a tribute to the novel by Dashiell Hammett featuring the hardboiled detective Sam Spade and his involvement in the doomed quest for a mysterious artifact, as well as the three film noir movies based from it including the classic that made Humphrey Bogart a star. Chapters tell of Hammett's days as a detective, his publication in pulps, the making of the classic novel, critical views of the movies, the reverberations of The Maltese Falcon in popular culture, and much more. Illustrated with black-and-white photographs, selections of Hammett's pre-publication material, copies of news articles and other primary sources, and much more, Discovering The Maltese Falcon And Sam Spade is a "must-read" for mystery movie trivia buffs and anyone else curious about the history behind a legendary "hard boiled PI" adventure story.

Jeffrey P. Fisher and Harlan Hogan's Voice Actor's Guide To Home Recording (193114043X, $24.95) is for any who would be a voiceover actor - and any who would set up a personal recording studio to achieve this goal. Basic production techniques are a 'must' key to producing effective, successful in-house demos, and can lead to auditioning from home and working with clients around the world. Author Jeffrey P. Fisher provides audio/video and media production services professionally, while his co-author Harlan Hogan has over 30 years' experience as a voiceover actor: together their experiences cover everything from integrating a personal computer into the home recording set-up to using the Internet to make and market professional-quality home recordings. Very highly recommended: The Voice Actor's Guide To Home Recording is the next level above several publications which just cover 'do you want to be a voiceover actor', offering the nuts and bolts missing from these titles. David Gibson and Maestro Curtis' The Art Of Producing: How To Produce An Audio Project (1931140448, $29.95) is the first book to standardize a specific production process for a music project from beginning to end, using step-by-step procedures for production, whether it be for a band, group or record company project. Author David Gibson has been producing groups in major 24-track studios since 1982, while Maestero Curtis has worked with numerous artists and produced projects with his own band. Their combined backgrounds provide the most detailed production techniques and latest technology discussions in print, making The Art Of Producing is clearly to be considered as a 'must' for all aspiring musicians.

You're not holding the usual movie review overview of the top name productions when you purchase Videohound's Golden Movie Retriever: you're holding a weighty guide packing in over 27,000 movie review into some 1600 pages including appendices such as an Awards Index, listings of specials and comedy, and more. The numerous extensive cross-references and indexes make Videohound's Golden Movie Retriever 2006: The Complete Guide To Movies On Videocassette And DVD the best of show, hands-down.

Want to be an actor, but don't know how to break into the business with the right approach? You can't go wrong with - and shouldn't go without - Cynthia Brian's The Business Of Show Business: A Comprehensive Career Guide For Actors And Models. The author has a background in producing, directing, acting, hosting and consulting, and has coached kids and adults alike. From learning what kinds of jobs are out there to learning about agents, auditioning, rules for child actors and working on the side, this is the 'insider's' guide to the industry which should be in the hands and on the minds of any aspiring model or actor before they compete in the show business world.

You have to have been a fan of the science fiction TV series Farscape, from England, to appreciate Joe Nazarro's fine Creatures Of Farscape; Inside Jim Henson's Creature Shop. With that prerequisite met, prepare for an outstanding survey which goes beyond the scenes of the TV series, showing how the many monsters of the show were created. Captivating scenes from each of the show's seasons profile monsters and their making in a vivid series of full-page color displays accompanied by written descriptions of each creature's premise.

The Hunting/Fishing Shelf

Author/fisherman Bob Sampson has spent over thirty years targeting inshore game fish and draws from his extensive experience and expertise in Fluke: An Angler's Guide to provide a invaluable guide to the fluke which covers everything from appropriate gear and finding the fish to developing strategies for catching fluke, considering different baits, and drift fishing. Nothing is omitted here - not even how to cook and store it after the catch.

Oregon holds some of the finest wilderness river canyons in the world - and floating them is really the only way to thoroughly see them. That's why Floating & Fishing Oregon's Wilderness River Canyons is so important to planning such a trip: maps, river logs, and recommendations pack a guide which covers everything from low and high waters and class ratings and descriptions to vivid descriptions of shoreline scenery and each river's points of interest. From places to hike along the way to rapids, eddies and waves, each river receives explicit condition descriptions, color photos, maps, and recommendations. A 'must' for planning any serious Oregon river journey.

The Music Shelf

Music and giving performances is one thing, but making money doing it is something else again: you need more than talent to be successful, and Making Music Your Business: A Practical Guide To Making Money Doing What You Love covers all the business basics of the industry. Here are topics not usually given much treatment in more general business or music books, from how to use a booking agent and public original music to finding a manager, performing on tour, and selling your own cds. The business of publishing, signing contracts, protecting copyright - all is covered under one cover.

Considering its weight and depth, Totally Guitar: The Definitive Guide is a bargain even at nearly thirty dollars. For one thing, there are over 2,000 photos, 1,000 playing tips and 250 select chords packed into an oversized hardcover of over 600 pages. The focus isn't just on improving guitar style and technique across all genres: it provides stories of memorable bands and guitarists, provides tips on maintaining the instrument, packs in an illustrated glossary of guitar terminology, and is filled with color photos and numerous references on every page. If you're a serious guitarist - or know of one - then Totally Guitar is the item of choice.

Before the invention of 'talk radio' music was the cornerstone of radio programming - and Jim Cox's Music Radio: The Great Performers And Programs Of The 1920s Through Early 1960s documents the presence and importance of musical programming through all the genres and station focuses. Major series as well as artists are explored in detail, with many less-popular shows and performers included. Sections cover the classics, the disc jockeys who played the music and chose the sound, house bands, sacred singers, and much more. Each section provides a detailed historical overview, mention of major influences and personalities, and insights into music evolution from and influence on radio shows.

Music copyright is an important thing to protect - and also happens to be one of the least understood areas of the industry, though it holds potential for big profits and large losses if it isn't handled right. The Plain And Simple Guide To Music Publishing: What You Need To Know About Protecting, And Profiting From, Music Copyrights narrows the focus to music publishing and comes from an author who has administered publishing rights for hundreds of artists and companies, earning them big-ticket money in the process. Readers learn about the inner workings of the music industry, pitfalls and promises, licensing, co-writing and more. Musician Tom Petty provides an introduction recounting his own tale of woe for not paying enough attention to this essential area.

The Cookbook Shelf

Living In The Raw Gourmet is a cookbook whose recipes truly live up to the promise of its cover photography. This compendium of raw food recipes by Rose Lee Calabro is a truly multiethnic selection of truly innovative and healthy dining from salads to desserts. From breakfast cereals and porridges, to nut milks and fruit smoothies, to breads, crackers and scones, to appetizers, soups and pates, featuring more than forty salads and a dozen salad dressings, as well as showcasing cakes, candies, cookies, pies, tortes, brownies and puddings, Living In The Raw Gourmet will enable even the most novice kitchen cook to prepare safe, nutritious, palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, "kitchen preparation friendly" meals for all dining occasions. Enhanced with tips about setting up a living and raw food kitchen, the basics of soaking and sprouting, food dehydration, and maintaining a raw food diet, Calabro also provides an extended recommendation reading and resource guide that will prove invaluable. Living In The Raw Gourmet is a unique and highly prized addition to any kitchen cookbook collection!

A welcome contribution to the "Mama's Kitchen" series, The Mexican Mama's Kitchen: Authentic Homestyle Recipes combines classic and time-tested home recipes with the motherly tips and advice of an experienced cook, such as "When deseeding chilies, be as careful as possible. Try to wear rubber gloves and avoid rubbing your eyes" and "To make vanilla sugar, add one vanilla pod to 2 cups sugar. Set aside for 3 weeks and then mix. Use to sweeten hot drinks as a sugar alternative." Recipes such as Bricklayer-Style Eggs, Green Rice, Black Burner Beans, Mexican Hot Chocolate and many more are presented not only with methodical instructions, but also a brief introduction describing how the recipe has been used in families for generations. A handful of color photographs illustrate The Mexican Mama's Kitchen, a very highly recommended and easy-to-use family cookbook.

El Hughes comes from a southern cooking tradition where flavor is paramount. Then her husband was diagnosed with diabetes and heart problems necessitating a radical change of cooking strategies and mealtime menus. The need was for nutritious dishes that would taste good, but not include either salt or sugar as ingredients. The result is It's Hard To Believe With No Salt, No Sugar, a culinary compendium of "kitchen cook friendly" dishes that range from Strawberries & Cream; to Shrimp & Pasta; to Orka & Tomatoes; to Stuffed Turkey Burgers; to Banana Pudding. The recipes are laid out plain and simple for even the most novice kitchen chef to follow accurately and successfully. This "no frills" cookbook is enthusiastically recommended for anyone having to deal with diabetes and heart-health issues in their family dining -- and would make an ideal curriculum supplement choice for highschool or homeschool cooking classes.

Simply Bill is a thoroughly "kitchen cook friendly" compendium of recipes showcasing the dishes of self-taught Australian chef Bill Granger, who is also known for his popular and worldwide distributed cooking show "Bill's Food". From Tomato Basil Salad to Berry Butterfly Cakes, Thyme-Roasted Almonds, Roast Beef Wrapped in Prosciutto, and so many more. Each of these outstanding dishes offer a unique palatability and culinary signature sure to generate appeal particularly at fine dining occasions. Full color photography on every page complements the thorough instructions and serving tips.

The Veggie Queen: Vegetables Get The Royal Treatment showcases more than a hundred seasonal recipes for healthy, appetite satisfying, palate pleasing, vegetarian dining for all occasions. A culinary educator, a Registered Dietitian, and a dedicated expert in vegetarian cuisine, Jill Nussinow divides her recipes into chapters for Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. Then continues with two more recipe chapters for "Anytime at All", "Pressure's On - In a Good Way". Featuring terrific dishes that range from Potato and Watercress Soup with Sorrel Cream; Italian Bread Salad; and Red Peppers Stuffed with Quinoa, Squash and Sunflower Seeds; to Spicy Greens Salad with Baked Tofu and Roasted Shiitake Mushrooms; Orange Scented Beet Salad; Garlic Parsley Mashed Potatoes; and Chickpeas Italiano, The Veggie Queen is also enhanced for the kitchen cook with a Glossary of Food Times, a list of Sources, and a "user friendly" Index. No vegetarian cookbook collection would be complete without the inclusion of The Veggie Queen!

The Food Of Italy: A Journey For Food Lovers is a beautiful, coffee-table sized cookbook featuring sumptuous dishes that characterize the regional flavors of Italy. Stunning full-color photography, many images taking up a full page, revel in the visual appeal of tasty Italian dishes such as Wild Mushroom Bruschetta, Grilled Mackerel, Spicy Lamb Casserole, Calzone, Spaghetti Alla Puttanesca, Panforte, and so many more. The recipes explicitly walk the reader through the steps to perfectly prepare a repast pleasing to the palate. Highly recommended for anyone wishing to add a dose of Italian flavor to the kitchen.

Author Jamee Ruth's expertise in cookware pairs with lovely color photos by Leigh Beisch to cover the various shapes, sizes and uses for cookware and how they differ from each other in The Cookware Cookbook. From specialty pans like a fish poacher to recipes which teach readers how to choose between pots and pans, The Cookware Cookbook starts with the pan and produces a recipe to fit, demonstrating its use. The Cookware Cookbook is the perfect choice for the new cook just learning about cookware options and uses, and would be a welcome addition to any kitchen cookbook collection.

There are plenty of competing slow cooker cookbooks on the market, so what makes The Busy Mom's Slow Cooker Cookbook: More Than 320 Low-calorie, Low-Fat Dishes so special? One factor is the focus on producing one-pot meals the entire family will like, which are nutritious. The lay-flat plastic binding lends to cooking yet has spine lettering for easy shelving. And the dishes themselves blend pantry ingredients for quick preparation with scratch cooking for the best flavor, as in Apple-Cinnamon Pork Chops which blends canned apple pie filling with cinnamon, lemon juice, and chicken broth. Even vegetarian main courses are featured. Very highly recommended above most others: no pictures but with such simple recipes photos aren't at all needed.

Jean Andrews has numerous cookbooks to her name and has held positions in the American Institute of wine & Food and the Intl Association of Culinary Professionals: her Peppers Cookbook thus comes from a chili pepper specialist who has produced earlier pepper histories and here gathers over 200 recipes for peppers. This isn't just a gathering from her prior books, either: new recipes are featured as well as the best of old ones, from appetizers to main dishes and even desserts. No photos - but the clear directions don't need 'em.

With all the Italian culinary books on the market today, it's surprising to note Garlic And Oil: Food And Politics In Italy is the first comprehensive history of food habits in modern Italy. A review of the history from the mid-19th century to modern times argues politics radically changed the Italian diet and cuisine, from a boring, unchanging habit to become the subject of fiery political debates and government intervention. Source material includes writings of scientists, economists, politicians, consumers and more, lending a lively scholarly tone to a fascinating review of the evolution of modern Italian eating.

Going beyond the usual wine appreciation guide are two outstanding, different wine explorations for avid wine consumers. The new edition of chemist David Bird's Understanding Wine Technology: The Science Of Wine Explained (1891267914, $39.95) includes a foreword by Hugh Johnson as it describes the science of wine in simple terms. Recent scientific advances prompted this new edition, which covers the science and chemistry of the entire winemaking process from start to finish from grapes to filtration to end product. Mahesh Kumar, BA, ACMA, ATT, CMC, MBA, DipIc's Wine Investment For Portfolio Diversification (1891267841, $45.00) focuses on investing in fine wines, showing how to use an interest in fine wine collecting to hedge a shaky market. Analysis by London accountant Kumar reveals fine wine is also a fine diversification tool for investment and that investors can expect a higher rate of return relative to investment risk. Wine enthusiasts will be pleased to learn from this.

The Photography Shelf

A Glimpse Of Old China is a unique, bilingual collection of black-and-white historical photographs capturing daily life in Old China, ranging from the mid-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth centuries. Captions for each photo in English and Chinese succinctly date and place the images within their context. Historical sites, festivals, images from the military, industry, traffic, clothing of the period, health care practices, and so much more fill the pages of this valuable resource showcasing a timeless visual history. A Glimpse Of Old China is a truly impressive and enthusiastically recommended photography collection offering up a fully palpable sense of Chinese history, tradition, and culture.

Where is the 'art' in photography when the typical discussion revolves around technical camera operation? It's right here, in photographer/attorney Bert Krages' Photography: The Art Of Composition, which should be required reading for any photography student. Krages uses the same methods used to teach fine arts to draw important connections between photography and art, providing a group of some sixty exercises which teach readers how to perceive points, lines, shapes and more through the camera's eye.

Learn how to capture unique portraits of either teens and seniors, how to marketing images to them, and how to maximize the features of both teens and seniors through Digital Portrait Photography Of Teens And Seniors which covers everything from personalizing the photo shoot for the client to making the most of promoting this specialized path in portrait photography. From shooting in studio or outdoor locations to accepting input from clients and posing teens and seniors, Rice's many solid tips are based on his own experience.

Augustus F. Sherman worked as a clerk with the Immigration Bureau of Ellis Island, photographing over two hundred families, groups and individuals as they passed through customs. Augustus F. Sherman: Ellis Island Portraits 1905-20 represents the first published collection of his work, featuring a hundred of his best photos of peoples from cultures around the world. A historical essay by Peter Mesenholler places the period of time and photos in perspective, providing both a critical analysis of Sherman's work and this collection, and lending important background to the portraits. An outstanding presentation of historical portrait photography.

Peachpit's computer titles have strong following in the computer and photography worlds, and some recent arrivals strengthen their collection with new, important focuses on photography which any serious public library or specialty computer/photography collection will consider 'musts'. Ben Willmore's Adobe Photoshop CS2 Studio Techniques (0321321-898, $50.00) provides a guide to mastering the basics of the Photoshop photography enhancement program. From the most basic tools of the program and how they can manipulate photos and effectively edit images to more advanced, creative explorations of blending, enhancing and colorizing images, this has been updated for the latest Photoshop CS2 and covers all the new features of a program which has come to be regarded as the industry standard in computer photo editing. Use it in conjunction with Dave Cross's The Photoshop CS2 Help Desk Book (0321337042, $34.99), written by a Photoshop seminar provider who gathers the most common questions under one cover. From what to do when things don't work, from re-setting to re-installing, to checklists for troubleshooting, customization options, and common image problems, become your own 'help desk' with Dave Cross' 'help desk in a book'. Dan Margulis' Photoshop Lab Color: The Canyon Conundrum And Other Adventures In The Most Powerful Colorspace (0321356780, $49.99) explores the least-discussed tool of the program, Photoshop LAB. An overview of LAB surveys areas in which it excels along with areas in which it fails, considering the program's applications, pros, and cons. From creating more effective masks with A and B channels to making big changes in color and creating both lifelife and fantastic results, Photoshop Lab Color is a recommended pick for any advanced Photoshop photographer.

The Automotive Shelf

The drawings comprising Future Retro: Selected From The Jean S. And Frederic A. Sharf Collection consider a fine era of American auto design: the 1940s through the 1960s, when the focus was on futuristic vehicles from Detroit. Over fifty color drawings - many seeing print here for the first time, so don't anticipate repeat performances - capture futuristic, retro and sometimes downright odd vehicles pack a presentation inspired by an exhibition currently on view at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. All the drawings are from the collection of Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf, are presented in full-page color, and capture some of the ground-breaking dreams of auto design of the era. A 'must' for car fans and students of Americana.

The Dance Shelf

The stars of top New York City ballet companies have been selected by dance photography Roy Round for profile in Round About The Ballet, a visual treat and an effort to capture the movements and artistry of ballet in photo book format. But Round About The Ballet isn't just visuals alone: interviews with the dancers probe their achievements, lives, and dancing challenges alike, covering such diverse topics as how ballet competitions have changed their lives, how associations with particular companies have influenced their dancing styles, and both physical and psychological dancing challenges. A 'must' for any serious dancer, especially for fans of ballet.

The Homeowner's Shelf

Two excellent homeowner's project handbooks are fine references for home designers who would add final finishing touches to an outdoors project. Pat Sagui's Landscaping With Stone (1580111122, $19.95) tells how to blend natural stone as a part of a landscape, whether it be a walkway, patio, garden walls or water stepping stones for a shallow stream. Packed with color photos throughout, Sagui's title tells how to build, use mortar, set rock and stones, and more. Creative Homeowner's Decks: Plan, Design, Build (1580111483, $19.95) tells how to design a deck based on both modern design trends and project needs. Over sixty step-by-step photos shows how to plan the design, use tools and materials properly, and how to add stairs, railings and more to a finished desk. Tips on decay-resistant designs and proper foundations are particularly well presented.

Modern pioneering solar designers are the profile of Tomm Stanley's Going Solar: Understanding And Using The Warmth In Sunlight: a survey of these designers' achievements and grasp of science in solar energy design. Here are the explanations behind how and why solar devices work, helping readers understand how the technology might be applied for everyday use. As a simple introduction to the topic, Going Solar is a recommended pick.

Three fine home makeover designs are recommended picks for any who would transform a home for style and efficiency alike. Before & After Kitchen Makeovers (0376013427, $16.95) features forty renovations which use before/after photos to display the entire transformation. This isn't just a pictorial comparison guide, however: short explanations highlight particular challenges, goals, floor plan options, and more. Perfect for considering a home kitchen project changing the entire look and functionality of the room - as is Work Surfaces And Countertops (0376-018070, $14.95), which narrows the focus to countertops and work surfaces not just for kitchens and galleys, but for bathrooms, offices, basements and more. Discussions of the latest new designer materials and looks accompany an extensive photo section of finished designs and projects, plus step-by-step instructions for 14 simple projects. The Ultimate Garage (0376012013, $19.95) shows how other homeowners have brightened dark garages and turned them into more pleasant, efficient storage and work areas. Whether it's a winter playroom for the kids or a clean place for storage that's needed, The Ultimate Garage shows how to make best use of space and remedy common garage problems.

Clarkson Potter
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Are you building your own swimming pool but want something unique? If so, Martha Baker's The Swimming Pool: Stylish And Inspirational Ideas For Building And Decorating Your Pool (0609610767 $50.00) is for you. From assessments of popular contemporary styles and materials to discussions of key elements which blend for a unified look, The Swimming Pool packs color photos with tips on how to compliment a property with the right design - up to and including furniture, poolside cooking and dining options, and landscaping. Maybe you're renovating your house: take a look at Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle's Facelift: Solutions To Revitalize Your Home (1400-08153X, $19.95): it focuses on innovative solutions for decorating problems to turn dark or dull rooms into lively or restive retreats. Mood-inspired sections advocate choosing color schemes which work: before-and-after renovation pictures accompany step-by-step project hints and plenty of tips.

The World History Shelf

Collaboratively compiled, organized and edited by academicians Lorry Felske (Department of Canadian Studies, Faculty of Communication and Culture, University of Calgary) and Beverly Rasporich, (Faculty of Communication and Culture, University of Calgary), Challenging Frontiers: The Canadian West is a compilation of essays by knowledgeable multidisciplinary contributors on identifying and critiquing the impact of the frontier on Canadian culture and society. These erudite essays are as informed and informative as they are thoughtful and thought- provoking. Offering an impressive and diverse body of seminal scholarship, Challenging Frontiers is highly commended reading for anyone with an interest in the development of the Canadian western frontier.

In 1438 a pig was hanged for murder in Burgundy, an apple was judged possessed by demons in 1602, and werewolves and flying witches were part of the belief system of everyday man. Strange Histories: The Trial Of The Pig, The Walking Dead, And Motehr Matters Of Fact From The Medieval And Renaissance Worlds is packed with intriguing beliefs and accounts of Middle Ages ideas, explaining how and why these beliefs were widely accepted and showing how assumptions about witches and demons affected social and political systems and ideas of rational enforcement. An intriguing worldview of the past is analyzed.

The Genealogy Shelf

If your family tree includes Chicago roots, you better make sure a copy of Finding Your Chicago Ancestors: A Beginner's Guide To Family History In The City And Cook County is on your shelf: family historian Grace DuMdelle shows how and what to research in a Chicago-specific guide to genealogy which covers everything from local resources to Chicago research facilities and how to access them. Any beginner can use Finding Your Chicago Ancestors because it also covers important changes in search routines, how to make the most of 'hidden documents', how to overcome common records-seeking problems and much more.

Joseph Fucilla was the son of Italian immigrants from a small village: his interest in his heritage led to in-depth investigations of the origins of Italian proper names - a field which contributes to genealogical pursuit in Our Italian Surnames. Originally published in 1949, this is still regarded as the authoritative reference on the subject, wit chapters covering botanical names, occupative names, compound names and more. Quite technical listings identify names under each category and add often extensive footnoted references: a must for any researching their Italian roots.

The Audiobook Shelf

Stephen King's The Shining first appeared in 1977 and has enjoyed ongoing celebration as an outstanding horror story, receiving film benefits equally powerful: so it's interesting to note this classic appears on audio for the first time under the practiced voice of Campbell Scott, a film director who knows what makes good acting on stage and on recordings. The Shining (0743537009 $49.95) is every bit as gripping and thrilling on audio as on screen: in audio every nuance of horror comes to life. Don't miss it! Dr. Denis Waitley's The Psychology Of Winning: Ten Qualities Of A Total Winner (074-3544730, $19.95) enjoys the author's own practiced and pleasant voice as he offers simple principles of healthy behavior for winning in life. From adjusting expectations to reality to focusing on goals and rewards instead of fear of failure, The Psychology Of Winning is outstanding.

Clipper's British authors and narrators may not be every American listener's cup of tea, but it would be a shame to miss some of these special new arrivals. Ron Keith lends a seasoned and bright voice to John Harvey's medical mystery Cutting Edge, telling of a doctor who faces a deadly late-night shift, and an attack which will keep him from becoming a surgeon. Is it a personal grudge - or something more? Stephen Booth's Black Dog (1841974579) receives veteran Christopher Kay's moving style and dramatic flair as it tells of a missing teen who is murdered, and an ambitious detective's search for the truth. Clive Woodall's One For Sorrow, Two For Joy (1845052102) may sound familiar: it was optioned by Disney for a major motion picture before it even hit the bookshelves - and Ray Lonnen's narration brings to life this epic fantasy of a danger affecting the animal kingdom. Swift action and animal protagonist bravery come to life in audio. Santa Montefiore's The Swallow And The Hummingbird (18450-52560) provides the latest romance from Montefiore, spiced with Juanita McMahon's compelling and smooth vocal style as it tells of George, who returns to Devon after the war, and childhood sweetheart Rita, who can't expect him to return to her the same as he left. Lyndon Stacey's Deadfall (184197935X) receives Gordon Griffin's fine and firm voice as it tells of one Lincoln, heir to an estate who longs to ride on the British Olympic three-day eventing team. When he finds the owners' daughter beaten, he sets out on quite a different course to uncover the truth and finds himself a target. Laurie Graham's Mr. Starlight (1845652579) receives Jonathan Keeble's passionate and involving narrative style, telling of brothers who live at home with their mother as they play bookings in Birmingham. Sel's smooth vocal abilities leads him to decide to try fame in New York City in this story of success and achievement.

Brilliance's audios are perfect choices for leisure listens whether it be in the car or at rest: a host of new titles arrive just in time for Fall feature and possible gift-giving choices. Mystery fans will relish Marcia Muller's Cape Perdido (1697370835, $29.95), which enjoys a co-narration by veterans Dick Hill and Joyce Bean to add a dramatic flair to the story of a greedy corporation, an ecologist who wants to grab the fame for her cause, and a sniper who has a deadly intent in mind. Kay Hooper's Chill Of Fear (1596003367, $31.95) also enjoys veteran Dick Hill's smooth and vivid voice, paired with the story of two psychics who work to stop an equally gifted, dangerous killer. Sara Paretsky's Fire Sale (1569002980, $26.95) receives veteran Sandra Burr's warm and evocative voice in yet another V.I. Warshawski investigation, this time focusing on her old Chicago neighborhood and a dangerous family interaction. Linda Howard's Killing Time (1596008563, $26.95) enjoys Joyce Bean's style and her years of audio reading as it tells of a time capsule whose contents are stolen 20 years after burial. And then the murders connected to the capsule begin… Lee Child's One Shot (1596008407, $26.95) also enjoys Dick Hill's voice as it tells of six shots, five dead, and a city in terror. The police seem to have solved the crime - or do they have the wrong guy? It's up to Jack Reacher to find out. Suzanne Brockmann's Breaking Point (1596001526, $26.95) enjoys a strong dual narration by Patrick Lawlor and Melanie Ewbank as it tells of an elite FBI counterterroist agent whose close associate is threatened by a terrorist bombing. Gina's fallen into the hands of a deadly killer: can he save her? The dual narration lends gripping excitement. Perri O'Shaughnessy's Case Of Lies (1597374199, $26.95) receives Laural Merlington's experienced and smooth reading as it tells of one attorney Nina, who has returned to her Tahoe law office and home to discover a violent Tahoe mystery. Her new case is dangerous and threatens her life. J.A. Konrth's Bloody Mary (1593554923, $29.95) provides the second novel in the world of Chicago cop Jacqueline Daniels, with reader Dick Hill fueling the action. A case of excess body parts at the morgue leads Jack on a mission towards some dangerous conclusions.

An interview with the author and her daughter, who grew up in the culinary business, supplements The Pampered Chef (0739319930 $24.95), a story of Doris Christopher, a former teacher and home economist who returns to the work world with a vision of making cooking more convenient for families. Selling high-quality kitchen tools through demo groups and growing her business, The Pampered Chef, from a basement enterprise to a successful franchise. A story of personal success comes alive in audio. Troy Denning's Star Wars Dark Nest 1: The Joiner King (0739320343, $27.50) opens a new trilogy in the Star Wars saga, returning the New Jedi heroes to the limelight when Luke Skywalker's nephew and niece vanish into the Unknown Regions answering a call for help only they can hear. It's up to Luke to rescue them and solve the mystery of the Regions in a gripping story which receives Jonathan Davis' smooth and wonderful style accenting the high drama and science fiction action. Vicki Constantine Croke's The Lady And The Panda (0739320947, $27.50) receives Jennifer Van Dyck's fine and clear voice as it tells of Ruth Harkness's involvement in the first American expedition to bring a Chinese panda to the U.S. The effort took months of rough travel and left Harkness a widow undertaking the struggle in her husband's name: a gripping memoir comes fully to life under audio. Christopher Reich's latest Patriot's Club (0739308009, $27.50) is narrated by David Aaron Baker, who adds strong drama to the already-gripping thriller revolving around one Bolden, who faces a strange kidnapping and a struggle for his own life even as he's put the traumas of his childhood behind him. Ironically, it's the survival savvy he's honed from his hard street life which will help him solve a murder and save his own life in the process. Marek Halter's Zipporah, Wife Of Moses (0739311719, $29.95) receives Ellen Reilly's voice to enhance this story of a young woman whose destiny changes when she meets a handsome stranger, Moses, who seeks a peaceful life depite his true destiny. And, if Reilly's voice sounds familiar, it's because her fine audio style has also lent to TV commercials, radio ads and more, from 1986 to present.

The Gift of Valor: A War Story is the true and vividly presented audiobook narrative about an ordinary American soldier, twenty-two year old Marine corporal Jason Dunham, who was on patrol near the Syrian border on April 14, 2004, when an attacking Iraqi seized him, prompting a desperate battle. When the attacker dropped a grenade, Dunham placed his own helmet over the explosive to protect his men. His act saved their lives and cost him personal injury, as well as earning him a nomination for the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for military valor. Offering a view of the Iraq war and rebuilding from the people who put their lives on the line daily, The Gift Of Valor does not gloss over or seek to hide the cold brutality of the ongoing battle, but aspires to the hope that something greater can arise from that specific episode of bloodshed and pain. Highly recommended. 7 1/2 hours, 5 cassettes.

The Social Issues Shelf

Also available in a paperback format (0975867911, $14.95), Meat Market: Animals, Ethics, And Money by vegetarian author and animal rights activist Erik Marcus reveals the injustices of contemporary "agribusiness" animal agriculture. Meat Market is especially commended for the informed and informative scholarship and the deft, engaging writing with which it is presented for the non-specialist general reader. After outline chronic and widespread problems and ethical issues, Erik goes on to outline a new movement for farmed animal protection that includes sweeping changes in not just rhetoric, but in organization as well. Strongly recommended reading, Meat Market may well be the most influential work on the animal food industry since Sinclair Lewis' "The Jungle".

The Israelis have much experience when it comes to defenses against terrorist attacks, and their preventative measures have much to teach the rest of the world: that's the message of Living With Terrorism: Survival Lessons From The Streets Of Jerusalem, which outline preventative measures as practiced in Jerusalem. From analyzing a work or living area to determine how attractive it is to terrorists to identifying possible terrorist surveillance of schools, hospitals and buildings and even sealing a home room against the effects of biological or chemical weapons, this is a unique set of step-by-step instructions straight from those who have experienced terrorism for decades.

The Psychology Shelf

Depression levels are skyrocketing: in recent decades medication has been used to treat psychological depression, but the condition has its roots in society as well, and thus society should be held accountable: that's the message of The Age Of Melancholy: "Major Depression" And Its Social Origins. Chapters promote social psychiatry, which looks at social trends and environmental factors in an effort to understand depression. While the modern emphasis has been upon biomedical response, there's room for a different social psychiatry to balance the effort: such a new science can complete the clinical research models and provide alternatives to Prozac and other medical treatments. An excellent argument.

The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Payne is a member of a segment of humanity called Grotesques, distinguished by deformity and gifted with the power of healing which can lead them into near-slavery. Payne is unaffected by the burnout all other healers experience, and his search for acceptance in a strange society changes his life in Michael Blumlein's The Healer, a futuristic story of the medical profession's relationship with mankind.

Ace/Berkeley
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
www.penguin.com

Sarah Monette's Melusine (0441012868, $24.95) is a rich story of a dashing, successful wizard living with a past of abuse, when he was a slave before passing as a nobleman. Felix believes he's escaped these bonds, but his past has caught up with him and joins him with a wanted killer as they journey from Melusine through a strange land together. An outstanding story which focuses on close ties and alienation alike. Joe Haldeman's Old Twentieth (044101285X, $24.95) is set far in the future, when near-immortal citizens long for the days when bodies spontaneously healed and death was caused by disease and age. A virtual reality time machine can bring them in contact with the bygone world of their past - but when the time machine itself becomes sentient, it too is obsessed with humanity - and wants its engineer Jacob to debate life. An intriguing, engrossing story; hard to put down. Judith Berman's Bear Daughter (044101-3228, $16.00) is fantasy at its best and is recommended for adult and young adult fantasy fans alike. Pre-teen Cloud wakes up as a human girl, having shed her bear father heritage - but her mother's human husband, King Rumble, can't abide her and fears her heritage. Cloud wants to be a normal human girl - but King Rumble can't forget her heritage and threat to his rule, so Cloud must embark on a journey away from her beloved home. Myth and folklore blend in a satisfying story of a young girl's coming of age.

Science fiction author Thomas Disch has a strong following in the genre, producing memorable works which have earned an almost cult-like following; but this collection isn't his usual fiction - it's non-fiction containing essays spanning over twenty-five years of his career, offering his perspectives on the genre. From critical assessments of his contemporaries to the roots of science fiction which may be observed in modern writings, Disch offers a range of essays on everything from UFOs and the origins of Christianity to the unsung and too-few heroes of the short fiction genre. Critical, controversial - and thought provoking, On Science Fiction: A Last Judgment On The Genre From Science Fiction's Foremost Critic is for any who would think outside of the box.

ROC Books
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
www.penguin.com

Chris Bunch's Dragonmaster (0451460-308, $15.00) blends fantasy with political conflict as it tells of a war which leads dragon-riding men into battle. Few are strong enough to rule a dragon but Hal might be one of them and his efforts could change history. Simon R. Green's Blue Moon Rising (0451460553, $15.00) tells of a reluctant young prince of a kingdom suffering from financial losses. As second son of the royal line there's potential conflict for the throne - so Rupert is sent to slay a dragon and prove himself, but discovers worse things along the way. It's got all the classic drama of good fantasy: a beautiful princess, a dragon, and friends in unexpected places along the way. S. L. Viehl's Afterburn (0451460294, $23.95) tells of Hsktskt slavers, driven out of their home quadrant, and a planet of underwater-dwelling aliens which is hosting the resulting Peace Summit when an ambassador's shuttle is attacked. Bio Rescue pilot Burn is assigned to keep the peace and stay close to the beautiful ambassador's daughter Liana - can he prevent the conference from being sabotaged?

The Fiction Shelf

Slade's single claim to fame is a travel masterpiece which became a cult classic on travel without a passport, so when he sets out for Ecuador's jungle in search of new inspiration in a hallucinogenic drug, he's searching for miracles. He finds his drug and his ideas - but he also finds periodic blindness and a changed world - and addiction. Blinding Light is a novel of inspiration, vision, and searching. Though best known for his nonfiction travel and train books, Paul Theroux's talents show equally well in the novel arena, with fast-paced action and adventure blending with powerful characterization.

Edna is in her eighties when she's surprised by a visit from a former Turkish love from decades ago: as she relives her last and their relationship of years past, which was fraught with danger, politics and romance, Edna finds herself questioning his reality. Till I'm With You Again is the moving story of a spiritual friendship which may transcend death.

The Humor Shelf

If you like your travel with a healthy dash of comedy, don't miss The Risks Of Sunbathing Topless And Other Funny Stories From The Road, a funny survey of how even the best-laid plans of women can go awry. From a horror story of being trapped with Frog Man to a trip with a dog unfortunately not as nice as Lassie, The Risks Of Sunbathing Topless is for perfect leisure laughs.

Cathy is a popular daily comic strip which has appeared for years - and one of Cathy's main concerns has been finding romance and love in life; so it's fitting that an entire book be devoted to her success in The Wedding Of Cathy And Irving, a collection of strips devoted to Cathy's wedding, from the lead-up to her saying 'yes' to a year of wedding planning leading up to the event. Cathy fans and any interested in marriage will find plenty to laugh at, here.

The Language Studies Shelf

Beginners now have a completely revised, updated new Spanish course which blends easy lessons on cds (revolving around a modern Spanish used daily) with a companion workbook of exercises, learning units, and pronunciation tips. The pairing makes for an outstanding oversized collection which even includes an online audioscript for clear reference, a glossary, and more. The brand name Berlitz has long been synonymous with quality language learning, strengthened by updated and enhanced presentations such as this New Basic Spanish.

The True Adventure Shelf

Here's another true-life thriller of rescue at sea: this taking place in 1978 when a blizzard trapped a tanker off the Massachusetts coast, a rescuing Coast Guard ship found itself in equal danger, and a pilot boat captain went to the rescue of both. Dozens of interviews and audiotape recordings of the rescue blend with first-person accounts and research to make Ten Hours Until Dawn: The True Story Of Heroism And Tragedy Aboard The Can Do every bit as gripping as the best adventure fiction.

Mountain climbing drama comes to life in mountaineer, biochemist, and author Arlene Blum's Breaking Trail: A Climbing Life. Blum has written about climbing before in Annapurna: A Woman's Place: her latest is the story of how she got to be a climber, moving from an overprotected Chicago childhood to reach some of the highest mountains on Earth. Each chapter starts with a memory from her early life, which serves as a starting point to trace an element which contributed to her becoming a climber. A fascinating account.

Who was the famous 'Jungle Rudy', who left Europe's comforts for a home in the Venezuelan jungle? Jan Brokken sets out to follow in jungle adventurer Rudy Truffino's footsteps, reflecting on Truffino's prowess and feats in flying plans around remote canyons, leading expeditions to Angel Falls, and living in and exploring a remote lost rainforest world. Fine history and high adventure here; especially as relatively little has been written on either Truffino or Venezuela.

At The Mercy Of The River
Peter Stark
Ballantine Books
1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
www.ballantinebooks.com
0345441818 $24.95 1-800-726-0600

Peter Stark was invited to join a small expedition kayaking the Lugenda River in Mozambique: a river no white man had ever kayaked, still largely unmapped and wild. At The Mercy Of The River: An Exploration Of The Last African Wilderness tells of his adventure down the river, providing high adventure for armchair travelers with 'you are there' action. From croc-infested waters to reflections on great explorers who also explored the region, At The Mercy Of The River will have you on the edge of your seat, sharing fellow explorers' journeys in a fine blend of history and modern adventure.

The Biography Shelf

America's Agatha Christie: Mignon Good Eberhart Her Life And Works is the literary biography of Mignon Good Eberhart (1899-1996) who began writing during the golden age of detective fiction and enjoyed a career of more than sixty years as one of the country's most popular mystery novelists with 59 mysteries and numerous short stories to her credit. She even served as president and Grand Master of the Mystery Writers of America. This well researched and ably written study of her life by Rick Cypert provides an engaging personal history of both her personal and professional life. Drawn from her personal papers, correspondences, as well as interviews with her associates and friends, and passages from her published works, the reader is provided with an unusually informed and informative biographical presentation that is inherently engaging. America's Agatha Christie is especially commended reading for anyone aspiring to a life of writing for the public -- as well as a "must" for anyone who has read and enjoyed her contributions to the American mystery genre.

This superbly researched and written biography of Hugo Black recreates for the reader the times in which the Deep South was bound up by traditions of white supremacy and how a Southern white man developed a judicial philosophy and temperament to help end America's legal segregation and restore a simple justice that was the hoped for outcome of the American civil war, but which had been undercut by the development of a "Jim Crow" social order of repression and segregation. Biographer Steve Suitts provides new and pivotal information as he lays out the story of Black's personal and public life, provides new perspectives on the sweeping forces that shaped the destiny of Black's life, and the struggle for racial justice in the first quarter of the 20th century. A work of impressive and accessible scholarship, Hugo Black Of Alabama is a highly commended addition to community and academic library American Biography and Judicial History collections.

Plenty of biographies have been written about Churchill's life: so why the need for yet another? Just take a look at Michael Pateson's unique Winston Churchill: Personal Accounts Of The Great Leader At War to see the difference. For one thing, comments Churchill made about himself have been paired with previously unpublished, firsthand accounts of those who knew him to provide plenty of detail on Churchill's military background and how it changed his life and perceptions. Paterson adds the recollections of Churchill's superiors, fellow officers, and more to provide fresh material which is not covered in other books. Secondly, Winston Churchill follows a chronological order focusing on his military campaigns, which provides the ability to appreciate the changes in Churchill's strategic thinking over the decades. Finally, Winston Churchill provides plenty of technical references for further study, making it one of the most detailed biographies about Churchill in print. Very highly recommended.

Cuban-born, American-grown journalist Gigi Anders tells of her Russian/European Jewish heritage, her family's flight from Cuba in 1959, and their adventures searching for the American dream in the U.S., providing a hearty and vigorous autobiographical memoir of a crazy kid trying to fit into the American way of life. Enjoy a spirited story in Jubana! The Awkwardly True And Dazzling Adventures Of A Jewish Cubana Goddess which is a cut above the ordinary - and then some.

If actress Peggy Lipton's name is immediately familiar, it must be because of her hit success acting as Julie on the Mod Squad series, which made her a fashion icon and the ultimate 1970s girl - but there's much more to her, as her autobiography Breathing Out reveals. This isn't just an actress' gathering of Hollywood celebrity associations, but a memoir of growing up too fast in the 1960s, struggling with drugs and fame, and entering the world of fashion and modeling. The black and white centerfold of photos follows her highlights, but it's her own words which document a striking life - and a striking era.

Researcher and historian Rose Keefe's biography The Man Who Got Away: The Bugs Moran Story will delight fans of Chicago gangster days and history. While the focus is on Bugs and his stormy career as an independent outlaw, Al Capone and other partners in crime are also covered. Moran was a cunning survivor who was street-smart and savvy: though associated with ruthless crime, Moran also had a good side. A lively story evolves - all factual, despite the fact that The Man Who Got Away reads like an exciting novel.

Greenwood's biography series expands with the addition of some fine new titles, offering references perfect for either high school book reports or background reading on famous and modern figures. Jeffrey W. Coker's Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Biography (0313323372, $30.00) begins with Roosevelt's prep school and educated background, following his political evolution, his struggle with polio, and his election to the Presidency. Murry R. Nelson's Bill Russell: A Biography (0313330913, $30.00) reveals an Afro- American who was a basketball player, businessman, lecturer, and more. Most will know Russell's name through sports: the appearance of a coverage which follows his many talents provides a well-rounded view of the man's many achievements. Kristine Larsen's Stephen Hawking: A Biography (0313323-925, $30.00) provides a survey of one of the leading cosmologists of modern times, considering his physical disability, his scientific prowess, and his genius. All are excellent references.

The Science Shelf

The Pea And The Sun: A Mathematical Paradox is a fascinating introduction to the Banach-Tarski Paradox, a mathematical riddle that asserts it could be possible to create something as large as the sun by breaking a pea into a finite number of pieces and putting it back together again. Written to be accessible to lay readers and non-mathematicians, The Pea And The Sun outlines the history of the paradox, introduces readers to the basics of such matters as set theory, isometrics, scissors congruence and equidecomposability, and walks the reader through the theorem and proof that object duplication is indeed mathematically possible. But just because it is mathematically possible, is it physically possible? The highly counterintuitive nature of the mathematical theorem demands a critical response. A final chapter dwells on speculation as to how the Banach-Tarski Paradox may apply to the modern and future world. Written in a fresh, captivating, friendly style, The Pea And The Sun is remarkably engaging and will appeal to any reader with a discerning, inquisitive mind into the nature of the so-called impossible, regardless of their particular mathematical background.

In 1872 the HMS Challenger sailed from Portsmouth England to map the ocean floor: Richard Corfield's survey of its scientific discoveries are revealed in a story of modern science's probe of the logs, journals and achievements of the voyage. The Challenger sailed three and a half years in its scientific voyage of discovery: chapters in The Silent Landscape chart its probe into Bermuda's secrets, earthquake science, and more.

There is no better place for the concerned parent to turn to for scientific and medical insights on their questions about genetics than Doctor Scheuerle's Understanding Genetics: A Primer For Couples And Families. Given that one in every 100 Americans is born with a serious genetic disorder, issues are more clearly defined in modern times, requiring Understanding Genetics for a basic primer. Chapters survey the science of genetics, how it works, and what things doctors can change. The genetics of both common childhood and adult disorders are all discussed.

Astronomer Mark Kidger presents Astronomical Enigmas: Life On Mars, The Star Of Bethlehem & Other Milky Way Mysteries, a scientific examination of both historical and modern mysteries of the heavens, from "Stonehenge: Monument or Megalithic Observatory?" and "What Was the Christmas Star?" to "Pluto: Imposter or King of the Outer Darkness?" and "Are We Stardust?" Drawing extensively from research conducted throughout the twentieth and early twenty-first century, Astronomical Enigmas strives to present all that is known about puzzling conundrums in terms accessible to lay readers. An index allows for quick and easy lookup of specific subjects in this recommended compendium for anyone who has gazed up at the night sky with burning curiosity.

The Money/Finance Shelf

CFA's Sheryl Garrett and Debra A. Neiman's Money Without Matrimony: The Unmarried Couple's Guide To Financial Security (1419506-889, $21.95) finally addresses what is a major issue among co-habitating couples: how to live together without marriage and consider the methods and pros and cons of merging finances and lives. From owning property together to inheritances, partnership agreements, and other common obligations, Money Without Matrimony discusses many different arrangements and options. Kiplinger's fifth edition of Retire Worry-Free: Money-Smart Ways To Build The Next Egg You'll Need (14195-05157, $17.95) holds even more relevance with every passing year, as companies continue to trend to phasing out and reducing lucrative retirement benefits. From getting the most out of UIRA and Roth IRA accounts to maximizing tax-favored savings plans for the self-employed and handling lump sum distributions, Retire Worry-Free is loaded with workbook pages, charts, and information for calculating net work and retirement income. Eric Chester's Getting Them To Give A Damn: How To Get Your Front Line To Care About Your Bottom Line (141950-4584, $19.95) provides an excellent key to turning uncaring employees into performers and innovators. The latest generation shares a new set of values and won't blindly conform to company policy - but they can be motivated, and 'Generation Y expect' author Eric Chester shows how. From recruiting the best new employees to using different types of training to make them loyal, this is a 'must' for any member of the 'next generation employer'.

The Art Shelf

The Sporting Art Of Franklin B. Voss compiled and edited by Peter Winants is a splendid, full-color art book featuring the work of Franklin B. Voss, widely viewed as one of the most reknowned American equine artists of the twentieth century. With a background in riding and sporting as surely as artistic talent, his oils on canvas exquisitely capture the bond between horses and riders in high detail. A one-page commentary accompanies each full-page illustration, offering background on the individuals and horses painted as well as notes upon the artwork itself. A splendid and highly recommended addition to art shelves, The Sporting Art Of Franklin B. Voss is especially recommended for the equine sport enthusiast.

May Stevens is an exquisite, artbook presenting the life and works of artist, poet, teacher, and activist May Stevens, whose prestigious paintings are among the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Brooklyn Museum, and many more. Presenting a matter-of-fact "conversation" with May Stevens that reveals at length her history, motivations, styles, motifs, and other nuances side-by-side with a breathtaking gallery of black-and-white photographs and full-color plates, May Stevens thoroughly explores both the visual originality and the philosophical subtext of Stevens' art. Highly recommended!

Rockwell Kent: The Mythic And The Modern is a superbly organized, deftly written, engagingly presented showcase of American modernist painter Rockwell Kent (1882-1971) by independent curator and history Jake Milgram Wien. From stunning oil on canvas to wood engraving to linecut on paper invitations, Kent's art encompasses a wide diversity of mediums, celebrating everything from the passion of lovers to the majesty of nature. The glory of Ket's work in full color is complemented by the insightful elaborations of the text vignettes concerning each piece. A most welcome contribution to personal and library artbook shelves.

In Artists' Houses, historian and art critic Gerard-Georges Lemaire has compiled and written a informed and informative work that blends art history, interior design, and biographical sketches of fourteen fascinating artists from Austria, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, and America. The reader is treated to a kind of survey of the private homes of these extraordinary men and women who put as much care and creativity into the design and furbishing of their homes and gardens as they did their paintings. The artists featured include Andre Derain, Frantisek Bilek, Frederic Church, Alphonse Mucha, Rene Magreitte, Rosa Bonheur, Gustave Moreau, William Morris, Gabrielle Munter, James Ensor, Claude Money, Alfred Kubin, Giorgio De Chirico, and the members of the Bloomsbury Group. The fascinating text is wonderfully illustrated throughout with the impressively visual photography of Jean-Claude Amiel. Enhanced with the inclusion of a House Directory and a Bibliography, Artists' Houses is an strongly recommended addition to academic library Art History collections -- and would make a superb Memorial Fund Acquisition choice community libraries as well.

So, what's new in the world of acrylic painting? Plenty, according to acrylic product developer Rheni Tauchid, an artist who has given demonstrations across the country. New colors have been developed, new textures are possible, and new applications are revealed in The New Acrylics: Complete Guide To The New Generation Of Acrylic Paints. Chapters cover tools, innovations, mediums and everything the artist needs to know about the latest paints on the market.

Other books have been written on rock album cover art: here's the first to cover fifty years of the brightest and best album covers in Latin music history - and those who fostered them. Using album covers over the decades, Cocinadndo is an artistic, visual treat of the best Latin record covers from all genres of Latin music, from congo and bassa nova to salsa. Cocinando! is a simply gorgeous, rich presentation with full-page color album covers packing every page.

If you're a manga fan thrilled with the Japanese-style comic art which comprises the medium, and wish to know how to draw your own, then The Complete Idiot's Guide To Drawing Manga Illustrated is for you: a survey not just of how to draw, but covering the basic differences between Japanese and Americanized manga. From typical manga characters and their props to using the symbols and sound effects involved in drawing the manga style, this covers all the basics,

Masks are the oldest models for Netsuke art, designated as national treasures, yet remaining a relatively untapped collector's source. Perhaps that's because few in-depth coverages of Netsuke masks are available: an absence rectified by Netsuke Masks, packed with black and white and color plates and historical background on all kinds of Netsuke masks. Discussions of trick Netsuke, Netsuka characters, and more assure collectors thoroughly understand mask origins and culture.

Artist Bryan Pearce was born in 1929 and eventually diagnosed as mentally retarded: he was sent to a school for the retarded when he was ten and six years later worked at his father's butcher shop scrubbing pots and pans. When mother Mary brought home a child's coloring book for her son to play with watercolors, little was she to know his paintings would eventually be displayed in art galleries around the world, and would come to be prized by collectors. The Miracle Of Bryan Pearce follows his evolution as a noted painter, using a first-person documentation of family challenges and artistic ventures to create a compelling story.

The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Birds Of Central Park combines the narrative of a dedicated birdwatcher and truly beautiful color photographs of an immense range of feathered friends visiting New York's Central Park, from birds of prey like the sharp-shinned hawk to songbirds like the black-and-white warbler and waterfowl such as the great egret. An accompanying pocket guide nestled within the back cover of this spectacular coffee-table book will facilitate the efforts of New York birdwatchers to spot and identify these marvelous creatures. The exceptional color photography is unique in that it captures birds at some of their most unique moments - a mallard taking interest in a turtle, a grackle just as it launches yet an instant before it spreads its wings, a northern flicker with its tongue out, and more. Birds Of Central Park is enthusiastically recommended, especially for dedicated bird watchers and ornithologists.

So you have a beloved but aggressive dog and want to rehabilitate it before a lawsuit or injury happens: the first place to turn to is Pamela S. Dennison's How To Right A Dog Gone Wrong: A Roadmap For Rehabilitating Aggressive Dogs. Pamela is founder of the hugely successful Camp R.E.W.A.R.D. for aggressive dogs and has developed a host of rehabilitation techniques for them using attention desensitization, diversion and positive rewards. Re-train your wayward pooch with the help of this fine resource.

Four new dog training and showing manuals provide owners with specific, useful instructions and are highly recommended picks for both public lending and home libraries. Turid Rugaas' My Dog Pulls. What Do I Do? (1929242239, $10.95) talks about the common problems of canine leash-pullers. From why and how dogs develop the pulling habit to retraining a set puller and correcting problems, My Dog Pulls returns a dog walk to the pet owner's control with a series of step-by-step color photos and clear directions. Dennison's Bringing Light To Shadow: A Dog Trainer's Diary (1929242174, $19.95) provides the diary of a dog trainer who turned an aggressive rescue dog into a good pet. Shadow lashed out at people without warning and was dangerous; Dennison was a pro dog trainer who faced a real challenge with her new Internet acquisition. Her mistakes and successes come to life in a diary which tells of a successful achievement. Cheryl S. Smith's Dog Friendly Gardens, Garden Friendly Dogs (1929242077, $19.95) is one of the few discussions of garden design which incorporates a pet's needs and habits. Gardeners and pet owners alike will relish the approach, which tells how to blend traditional garden tasks and designs with a dog's needs. From plants which work well with dogs to creative use of directed digging and growing fruits and veggies for the family pet as well as the family, Dog Friendly Gardens, Garden Friendly Dogs is packed with ideas. Gail Haynes' The Winning Team: A Guide For Junior Showmanship (1929242212, $19.95) presents both kids and parents with an insider's guide to Junior Showmanship, from attending regional competitions to preparing for one's first ring appearance. Dog showing techniques are clearly explained and explored, from the differences between different rules from 4-H to AKC to capturing judge attention and winning. Juniors will enjoy a guide to philosophy and rules of the dog show ring.

How to Be A (Bad) Birdwatcher
Simon Barnes
Pantheon
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.pantheonbooks.com
0375423559 $17.95 1-800-726-0600

Bird watching is one of the simplest, cheapest and entertaining pastimes an amateur natural history buff could enjoy; and nobody should be overwhelmed by the fact that there are 10,000 species of different birds to watch. Writers from Woody Allen to poet John Keats are liberally quoted in avid birdwatcher Simon Barnes' How to Be A (Bad) Birdwatcher, a guide which follows the author's bird-watching adventures around the world. Bird enthusiasts and armchair viewers alike will find much to appreciate in his lively observations.

Emmis Books
1700 Madison Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45206
www.emmisbooks.com

Veterinarian Gary Sampson has seen his share of problem pets over the decades, and has gained many insights on the reasons behind pet behavior and how to prevent problems. Sampson's two 'Pet Peeves' titles which he has written with the assistance of Dick Wolfsie come from his vet practice and provide easy solutions to common pet problems, presenting practical lessons along with fun stories. Dog Dilemmas (1578602262, $9.99) tells of Curly the cocker spaniel who wrecks havoc when left home alone, a lab-shephard mix who cowers at thunder and shotgun blasts, and Bonnie the German shepard who won't let his owners go to bed. Cat Conundrums (1578602270, $9.99) pre-sents lessons learned from Mitzi the carpet-wrecker, George the Siamese velcro cat who comes packed with anxiety, and Velvet, the cat who loves chewing her owner's oxygen line. Fun lessons, all.

At first glance Kindred Spirit, Kindred Care: Making Health Decisions On Behalf Of Our Animal Companions might seem to be just a pet owner's manual - but in addressing the spiritual as well as the physical needs of animal, Dr. Nakaya goes much further, examining the nature of the human-animal bond itself and how to help animals both live and die gracefully. A wonderful, unusual guide to the overall needs of a pet adds a dimension lacking in your usual 'pet owner manual'.

There are plenty of books on the market which discuss the home tropical aquarium, from choosing fish to maintenance: so what makes Stuart Thraves' Setting Up A Tropical Aquarium Week By Week so special? It's his weekly focus on the project, from day one to week 12, which offers step-by-step clear instructions on how to correctly set up a tropical freshwater aquarium. Lighting systems, cleaning and filtering systems, fish choice and feeding plants: all are given photo embellishments and very clear direction.

Two wonderful pocket-sized field guides edited by Mel Baughman rival even the classic Petersen's bird guides, producing state-wide birding guides in a full color, handy pocket tote format which lends to both visitor and local resident use. Florida (0792293495, $14.95) and California (07-92294653, $14.95) each rely on local bird experts for detail: thus California receives the fieldwork expertise of Brian Sullivan and Florida's expert is Bill Pranty, who studies Florida Scrub-Jays as a profession. Behaviors, habitats, local sites and more accompany full-page color clear close-ups of each bird. Very highly recommended indeed: the per-state approach makes them much handier than your usual region-wide guides.

If you haven't heard of the marbled murrelet, even if you're an avid birder, don't be surprised: it's a rare bird who managed to keep its nesting place undetected for nearly two centuries: one explored in depth in Rare Bird: Pursuing The Mystery Of The Marbled Murrelet. Like the more famous ivory-billed woodpecker, the marbled murrelet is an elusive bird which has chosen exclusively a limited territory depleted trough logging. Though not on the edge of extinction, the many human threats to its habitat are reducing its numbers, and naturalist author Maria Mudd Ruth here explores these influences - and her discoveries about an amazing bird.

Mike Sullivan first visited San Francisco in 1983 and was captivated by its trees: his Trees Of San Francisco provides a culmination of his interests, from natural history and tree history to walking tours. Chapters come packed with color photos and are organized by tree variety, include many unique to San Francisco, and provide both growing notes and historical background. An excellent, unparalleled focus on San Francisco's tree history.

It's been over a century since naturalist John James Audubon's death, but his fame is no less for it, and author William Souder's biography Under A Wild Sky: John James Audubon And The Making Of The Birds Of America provides both a well-researched biography and an inviting leisure read recreating Audubon's time and passion. Chapters tell of the lush abundance of species Audubon was called upon to catalog, and tells of his struggle to gain recognition for his work. A 'must' for any Audubon fan.

Exotic animals and plants are crossing the globe into new areas as never before, fueled by human traffic into previously inaccessible areas. From bird-eating snakes which come to Hawaii in the landing gear of airplanes to giant Indonesian snakes which wind up beneath the homes of suburban Miami, introduced species are presenting a growing threat to biological diversity, crowding out native species and rapidly changing the world. Out Of Eden: An Odyssey Of Ecological Invasion represents Alan Burdick's personal tour of the front lines of ecological invasion around the world. It answers the basic question of why invasion issues are important to human lives - and how it's happening.

The Library Video/DVD Shelf

Ropesport is a four-part DVD series that focuses on using a jump rope to exercise and burn off excess fat while toning the muscle systems of the body. Appropriate and "user friendly" for all ages and all levels of fitness, Ropesport: Basic Workout offers beginning instruction and exercises; Ropesport: Intermediate Workout includes "bonus jumps" and Eric Nies' "Ab Blast"; Ropesport: Advanced Workout features even more "bonus jumps"; and Ropesport: Extreme is enhanced with demonstrations of truly amazing "jumps, tricks, and soloing". Ideal for home use, this Ropesport series is also recommended for health clubs and school gym class group exercise programmed instruction as well.

Robson Green stars as Barry, a working-class cop assigned to protect the queen's youngest son who is a new student at Cambridge in The Student Prince, a superbly produced and thoroughly entertaining British drama production. The fun begins when cop bodyguard and the prince encounter Grace, an American exchange student for whom they both fall -- hard. When the prince proves as inept at love as he is at learning, the bodyguard finds himself become tutor as well as protector, ghostwriting sweet nothings and academic assignments, all the while repressing his own feelings for Grace. A BBC American and PBS "Masterpiece Theatre" production that would make a splendid and very popular addition to any community library Video/DVD collection, The Student Prince is widescreen, full color, 92-minutes, and enhanced with this DVD format to include a Robson Green biography, a photo gallery, and cast filmographies.

Wiccan Deborah Gray hosts an informative and fascinating survey of the ancient arts of witchcraft through the perspectives of contemporary wiccans, showing how to cast magic spells and charms, weave magic with the phases of the moon, and align with the enchanted seasons. Superbly filmed on location through historical sites of Egypt, Europe, and the British Isles, Wish On A Spell is an outstanding and well recommended 64-minute, full-color, DVD production that includes a Bewitched Spell Booklet, "Witches Weekend" featurette, and an interview with famed astrologer Athena Starwoman.

Hetty Wainthrop is the most interesting and unusual British female detective since Agatha Christy's Jane Marple. This middle-aged private investigator (played to perfection by Patricia Routledge) assisted by her semi-retired husband and teenage apprentice PI solve some of the most fascinating "who done it" mysteries ever to be produced by the BBC. Hetty Wainthropp Investigates is the complete second season of this highly popular detective series in a DVD boxed set that includes two episodes not seen on by American audiences on the PBS Mystery! broadcasts. This 3-disc collection has a total running time of 296 minutes and is ideal for anyone Hetty Wainthropp mystery fan who might have missed any of the second season shows -- not to mention those two not-broadcast- here before episodes!

WGBH Boston Video has packaged for home and community library DVD collections some of the best that British television has to offer in the fields of Romance and Mystery. Two of their latest and enthusiastically recommended offerings include superb sampler box sets of the kind of fare that BBC America and Masterpiece Theatre have offered an appreciative American audience. The Mystery Collection Boxed Set (1593755244, $59.95) is a five-disc collection that includes A Great Deliverance, the premier film in "The Inspector Lynley Mystery" series, as well as selections from two other outstanding British mysteries, Second Sight 1 featuring a British police detective who is losing his vision, and Touching Evil 1, starring a maverick police detective who goes up against some of England's most dangerous and loathsome criminals. The Masterpiece Theatre Collection: Romance (1593755-236, $79.95) is a seven disc boxed set showcasing superb British miniseries productions of true romance classics: Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina; Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights; and the romantic dramas Reckless and Reckless: The Sequel. Each of these wonderfully presented boxed sets will prove to be welcome and highly popular additions for any Video/DVD collection. Librarians would be well advised to visit the WGBH Boston Video website for a complete catalog of all the fine videos and DVDs being offered.

The Judaic Studies Shelf

Learning From The Tanya by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz is the second volume in the "Definitive Commentary on the Moral and Mystical Teaching" series focusing on the Kabbalah. The first volume of the series, "Opening the Tanya" discussed the first section of the original text of Hasidic Master Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi's "Tanya". This second volume takes on the next major portion of the Tanya, offering the definitive explanation and commentary providing the reader with a guide toward harmony of body and soul, of earthliness and transcendence, and a higher level or awareness and understanding with our human potential with respect to a relationship with God. A scholar, teacher, scientist, author, mystic, and social critic, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz is a world recognized expert on this subject, and Learning From The Tanya is confidently recommended reading for students of Judaic mysticism and the Kabbalah in general, and the Tanya in particular.

The Architecture Shelf

Illustrated throughout with black-and-white photographs, Classic Houses Of Portland, Oregon 1850-1950 is a grand tour of over 300 venerable residences representing twenty-three architectural styles including Greek Revival, Queen Anne, Bungalow, the regional Northwest style, and many more. A brief history of each house is given; sometimes floor plans are offered, to help the reader fully appreciate the distinct ambience of the dwellings. Classic Houses Of Portland, Oregon 1850-1950 offers a marvelous, sweeping, informative tour which as enjoyable for non-specialist general readers as it is for architectural student, professionals, and historians.

The hewn-log house represents early American architecture - and author Charles McRaven has been building and restoring these houses for sixty years: he's in the perfect position to illustrate each step of the process, from building from scratch to repairs. Learn how to replace rotten logs, notch logs, use vintage logs, or handle floor joists in this step-by-step guide, loaded with black and white photos.

China has seen many social, political and economic changes over the centuries, yet surprisingly, has managed to preserve excellent examples of changing architectural home styles throughout these years, as Chinese Houses: The Architectural Heritage Of A Nation presents. Packed with color photos of both interior and exterior décor, Chinese Houses also presents an in-depth survey of the rituals, culture, ornamentation influences, and floor plans of homes across China, from urban to rural dwellings. If it's a strong in-depth history of Chinese home architecture which is desired, look no further than the gorgeous Chinese Houses: it's much more than the coffee table picturebook it appears a first glance.

Author Kathryn Masson is a native Californian with access to some of the finest private homes and gardens in the area: Sonoma Valley Style: At Home In California's Wine Country pairs lovely color photos by Steven Brooke of both exteriors and interiors with Masson's feature of wine country homes and weekend retreats. Each home receives descriptions of the homeowner's goals, collaborations between architects and builders, and review of unique design attributes and challenges. From a historic Craftsman farmhouse to a 21st century interpretation of Arts and Crafts style, Sonoma Valley Style contrasts and highlights a variety of elegant homes, from restored Mexican adobes to Victorian farmhouses.

The Library Science Shelf

Technology For Results: Developing Service-Based Plans is a step-by-step guide written especially for librarians and administrators to evaluating the effectiveness of current library technologies and ensuring that new library technologies will fully support the library's mission and goals. Professional librarian and library automation expert Diane Mayo demonstrates how to create a plan that is responsive to changing needs as well as ever-evolving technological ability. Sample workforms, step-by-step "what to do" instructions, and an index for quick and easy lookup complement this straightforward and invaluable guide to identifying and implement the elements of the technological revolution best suited to serve the reading public.

The Archaeology Shelf

An Archaeological Search For Jesus is a five-part, 3 disc, DVD documentary written and hosted by, Biblical Archaeology Review editor Hershel Shanks as he traveled from Galilee to Jerusalem in an archeologically based search of the first century world of Judea and Palestine in which Jesus lived and died. Includes visits to Nazareth, Sepphoris, Capernaum, Bethsaida, Kursi, Qumran and Jerusalem. In each installment, Shanks interviews eminent and knowledgeable archaeologists and diverse New Testament scholars about the sites historically associated with Jesus and other gospel figures. Viewers are treated with a trip to Qumran, the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, are provided insight into the Jewish context of Jesus' teachings, learn what is historically accurate based upon archeological discoveries and what has been demonstrated as mere legend (such as the commonly ascribed synagogue where Jesus was thought to have preached, and what is the more probable site for this recorded incident in the gospels). Viewers of this outstanding and very highly recommended DVD are also treated to a bonus lecture -- "The Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament". This informed and informative, superbly recorded and presented, non-denominational film offers the perfect introducation and overview of the archaeological evidence of Jesus and early Christianity.

The American History Shelf

The collaborative editorial work of Edward Leo Lyman, Susan Ward Payne, and the late S. George Ellsworth, No Place To Call Home: The 1807-1857 Life Writings Of Caroline Barnes Crosby, Chronicler Of Outlying Mormon Communities is the seventh volume in the unique "Life Writings of Frontier Women" series published by the Utah State University Press. Enhanced with a profusion of maps and illustrations, this is a chronologically organized collection of a Mormon pioneer woman's memoirs and journal entries that include her marriage to Jonathan Crosby in 1834, to her conversion to the infant Mormon Church, to her move to from Canada to the new church in Kirtland, Ohio, to her coming to Nauvoo in 1842, to her emigration to the Salt Lake valley in 1848 less than two years before Brigham Young sent Caroline and her husband on a church mission to the Society and Austral Islands in the South Pacific. Late in 1852 the Crosbys returned to California where she recorded the post-Gold Rush life of San Francisco, and the new Mormon village of San Bernardino in southern California. Then in 1857, returning to Utah in response to a call from Brigham Young where she resided for the remainder of her life. No Place To Call Home is a superb and very highly recommended contribution to academic library American History original documents collections and supplemental reading lists portraying pioneer life in mid-nineteenth century America in general, and the Mormon experience in particular.

The Civil War Shelf

Silent Sentinels: A Reference Guide to the Artillery at Gettysburg is a historical guide to artillery used in the July 1863 battle of Gettysburg. Though hundreds of books have been published on the battle, only a handful have devoted more than a few paragraphs to the role of the "long arm" artillery. Silent Sentinels opens with an overview of the Gettysburg campaign, then narrows its focus to the role of field artillery, its organization, loading and firing, walks the reader through a tour of Gettysburg National Military Park, and even offers a chapter full of Gettysburg Artillery Trivia. Appendices include a list of artillery battles arranged by state and biographical sketches and official reports about union and confederate officers who served at Gettysburg. Black-and- white diagrams revealing the workings of artillery as well as assorted tables round out this excellent, thoroughly researched and focused reference.

Compiled and edited by John R. Hughes (the grandson of Lt. Col. John McKendrick Hughes) The Unwanted: Great War Letters From The Field is a compilation of the correspondences of an officer in the 151st Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, whose unit reached Shorncliffe in late 1916 where he and the other company officers were bluntly informed by the British that they were "unwanted", officers deemed "surplus to the establishment". Determined to contribute to the war effort, Major John Hughes became on of three Corps Agricultural Officers with the British 2nd Army, charged with growing vegetables and other foodstuffs to feed the front line troops. The Unwanted is John's personal story, based on the letters he sent to his wife nearly every day for three and a half years -- and a superb contribution to the still expanding library of World War I personal memoirs and military biographies.

The collaborative editorial effort of Steven Gould Axelrod, Camille Roman, and Thomas Travisano, The New Anthology Of American Poetry: Volume Two, Modernisms 1900-1950 compiles over 600 poems by sixty- five American poets from the era of 1900 to 1950, including T. S. Eliot, Gertrude Stein, Robert Frost, Langston Hughes, and many more. Offering a diversity of styles, and themes, this second volume of The New Anthology Of American Poetry also presents introductions, bibliographies, biographies, up-to-date footnotes and endnotes, and more to assist the reader in both understanding poetry and find more works by a given author. Very highly recommended both as an introduction to early twentieth-century American poetry and as a broad smorgasbord to experience and learn from a panoply of magnificent classic works.

2004 Barnard Women Poets Prize winner Tessa Rumsey presents The Return Message: Poems, an anthology of original poetry written with an eye toward 21st-century surrealism and freedom from constraints. Individual poems are brief, and often contemplate similarly fleeting targets such as dreams, moments of emotion, or the all too transitory nature of life. A daring collection that sweeps the reader through its moments of inspiration to the last page. Bridal: Last flower of spring, / Unable to release itself and attain perfection. / Gorgeous pale brocade, arms reaching earthward!

The Journalism Shelf

The second volume of the Oxford University Press series "Institutions of American Democracy", The Press is the collaborative editorial effort of Geneva Overholser (Curtis B. Hurley Chair in Public Affairs Reporting, Missouri School of Journalism Washington Bereau) and Kathleen Hall Jamieson (Elizabeth Ware Packard Professor of Communication, Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania). After a general introduction to the press as an institution of American constitutional democracy, the essays contributed by noted scholars and academicians are organized into five sections: Orientations: The Press and Democracy in Time and Space; The Functions of the Press in a Democracy; Government and the Press: An Ambivalent Relationship; Structure and Nature of the American Press; and "The Future of News, The Future of Journalism". Additionally enhanced with an Afterword by Overholser and Jamieson, The Press is an impressively informed and informative body of work that no academic library Journalism Studies collection should be without. It is also highly recommended for non- specialist general readers with an interest in journalism and its relationship to democracy and the maintenance of democratic institutions and processes.

The Anthropology Shelf

Professor of museum science Gary Edson presents Masks And Masking: Faces Of Tradition And Belief Worldwide, an examination of the role of masks throughout human history. Exploring cultural uses of masks from creating a substitute face to as a symbol of magic to as communal symbols and couriers of myth, Masks And Masking argues persuasively that masks should not be assessed as performing a single function across the complex turn of ages and cultures. More than 100 detailed black-and-white drawings illustrate this scholarly and thoughtful discourse.

The Education Shelf

The History Of Inclusion In The United States
Robert L. Osgood
Gallaudet University Press
800 Florida Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002-3695
http://gupress.gallaudet.edu
1563683180 $55.00, 1-800-621-2736

Associate Professor of Education Rober Osgood presents The History Of Inclusion In The United States, a chronicle of the practice of inclusion in special education. Before the 1960's, students considered disabled were as a matter of course segregated from their nondisabled peers; only in recent decades have such practices been challenged and transformed into more integrative approaches that encourage more interaction between children of all ability levels. Chapters delineate the evolution of more inclusive and integrative approaches, pioneer individuals and legislation, and educational policy questions debated in the present day. An excellent resource for gauging the effects of history and recommendations for the future of special education.

Collectively and collaboratively compiled by educators Sybilla Cook, Frances Corcoran, Beverley Fonnesbeck, and Roz Goodman, Elementary Battle Of The Books is a resource for teachers of grades K-5 to fostering a love of reading in their students by organizing "book contests". Providing a list of over 300 popular titles and classics, Elementary Battle Of The Books offers five sample questions and web sites pertaining to each book, as well as guidelines for setting up a team-based game in which students test their knowledge of the books in a fun and fast-paced competition. A sample book entry for "Owl Moon" includes the author, illustrator, publisher, and ISBN information for the book, sample URLs related to the book, a list of awards the book has received, and suggested questions such as "In which book do trains and dogs sing at night?" and "In which book is a big flashlight used to see a bird sitting on a branch?" An excellent resource for promoting the joy of reading in young people.

The Buddhism Shelf

Zen Buddhism: A History Japan is the new edition of volume two of Zen scholar Dumoulin's classic two-volume reference of the history of Zen. Specifically focusing upon the development of Zen in Japan from its inception to its expansion during the middle ages and modern Zen movements, Zen Buddhism: A History Japan has now been enhanced with notes by James W. Heisig of the Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture and a new introduction by Victor Sogen Hori of McGill University. Zen Buddhism: A History Japan is an extensive, in-depth, scholarly, superbly written and presented resource and reference, intended especially for scholars, historians, and students of Zen Buddhism due to its thorough detail.

Professor of Tibetan studies Ringu Tulku presents Daring Steps Toward Fearlessness: The Three Vehicles Of Buddhism is as much of a practice manual as it is a scholarly assessment of basic meditation techniques and assorted Buddhist texts, ranging from Buddha's earliest teachings to a Vajrayana text by the yogi called Crazy Khyentse. Chapters strive to present the dharma in terms accessible to Western readers and beginning practitioners, and reveal the importance of each path with the attainment of genuine understanding. Highly recommended especially for novice to intermediate students of Buddhism.

The Business Shelf

Nanotech Fortunes: Make Yours In The Boom offers winning strategies by Darrell Brookstein in capitalizing on the business and investment opportunities in the new nanotech sciences. Individual chapters address all the diverse issues involved with this new and rapidly developing technology, including "Science Fiction vs. Science Fact", "How to Analyze Nanotech Companies like a Pro", "The Most Lucrative Nanotech Investments", "Trading Nanotech Stocks for Short- Term Profits", and "Six Steps to a Nanotech Fortune" and more. Of special note is the Appendix article "Tools Resources for Your Nanotech Fortune". If you are thinking about how to take advantage and participate in this newly emerging industry, then give a careful reading to the information, insights and advice that comprise Darrell Brookstein's Nanotech Fortunes!

In Entrepreneur: A CEO's Lessons In American Capitalism, author and successful entrepreneur Charlie Thomas (Chief Executive Officer, NISCO Solutions) draws upon his more than seventeen years of experience serving on corporate boards, founder and chairman of Net2000 Communications, and his work with NISCO Solutions to provide aspiring corporate managers and directors with a compelling and informative account of growing a company through the market volatility of the 90s and through the unexpected and widespread corporate crises of the first years of the 21st Century. Complete with Endnotes and Appendices, Entrepreneur: A CEO's Lessons In American Capitalism is one of the most readable, attention engaging, highly recommended compendiums of ideas and experiences that can serve to inspire and challenge anyone charged with advancing the interests of their companies within highly competitive marketplace whether on a local, regional, national, or even international basis.

Now in an updated second edition, In Search Of Ethics is an anthology of testimonials from businessmen and women who successfully balanced honor with the demands of earning a living, in an era when lying, cheating, and fraud seem to be at an all time high. Each interviewed subject was required to meet interviewer Len Marrella's stringent procedural process, and while they come from vastly diverse walks of life, each offers crucial insights to keeping one's balance amid greed and corruption. Chapters firmly address how to develop solutions to ethical problems, and means of instructing the next generation to keep to tenets of honesty and fairness. A philosophical yet valuable and much-needed resource in troubled modern times.

From Babysitter To Business Owner: Getting The Most Out Of Your Home Child Care Business by Patricia Dischler (operator of Patty Cake Preschool., Prairie Du Sac, Wisconsin for fifteen years) is the ideal introduction and "how to" guidebook for setting up and maintaining a profitable child care service. Aspiring home day care operators will learn how to select new clients and retain valued continuing clients, how to develop and utilize a parent handbook, how to select an appropriate and manageable curriculum for their young charges, how to create work spaces in the home, and how to set long-term personal, professional, and business goals for their entrepreneurial child care, home-based business. The informative and thoroughly "reader friendly" text is enhanced with inspirational sidebars, lists of suggested resources, and a "3 Things You Can Do Today" checklist. If you are considering a home-based childcare business, then give a careful reading to Patricia Dishcler's From Babysitter To Business Owner.

The Complete Idiot's Guide To Growing Your Business With Google is a no-nonsense guide to increasing the visibility, and more importantly, the viability of one's business using the internet in general and the Google search engine in particular. As the title suggests, The Complete Idiot's Guide To Growing Your Business With Google is accessible to neophytes in the ways of the web, yet its practical advice will prove invaluable to business owners of all levels of Internet familiarity. For example, The Complete Idiot's Guide To Growing Your Business With Google warns against simply driving as much traffic as possible to one's site - supporting all the bandwidth for that traffic will actually cost you money! - but rather applying tips, tricks, and techniques to specifically focus on luring potential customers. Advice for putting together an easy-to-follow website that will generate internet customers - or encourage customers to visit one's store in person - common online mistakes to avoid, useful techniques to ensure one's site will be more likely to rise to the top in search engine queries, warnings against fraud, and much more fill this "must-have" resource for any entrepreneur looking to advertise and make money online.

The Interior Design Shelf

The Decorating Idea Book offers the enterprising homeowner or apartment dweller a wealth of gorgeous and practical suggestions for adding that special touch of vibrancy to their personal living space. Full-color photographs on every page showcase the themes and coordination suggestions spelled out at length by the detailed text. Packed from cover to cover with innovative ideas for color, furniture, windows, walls, floors, ceilings, lighting, and storage, the Decorating Idea Book is an ideal resource for the "do-it-yourself" inclined who eschew paying out big money to professional decorators.

The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Maltese Murders is the third in a trilogy of medical murder mysteries and finds part-time physician and occasional detective Dr. David Brooks dealing with the return of mobster Frankie Brick and Juan Carols Saltanban, the deposed president of Radonia, South America. Also back are Dr. Brook's spunky fiancess, police detective Kathy Dupre, and sidekick/cabdriver Musco Diller -- who has some unexpected sleuthing skills of his own. When Professor Kater Weld is found shot to death, it might be because of his revolutionary new inhaler that reportedly blocks the effects of any germ that might be used in a bio-terror attach. This page-turning mystery novel has a deftly written story that involves issues of bio-farming, eco-sabotage, and natural security that could be the stuff of tomorrow's newspaper headlines! Also highly recommended reading for all mystery buffs are the first two novels in this trilogy, Murders At Hollings General (1928782000, $19.95, Publishing Directions) and Murders At Brent Institute (1928782388, $21.95, Strong Books).

The Woodworking Shelf

The collaborative effort by wordworking experts Lonnie Bird, Jeff Jewitt, Thomas Lie-Nielsen, Andy Rae, and Gary Rogowski, Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide To Woodworking is a straightforward guide for practitioners of all levels of expertise. Chapters cover everything from setting up and outfitting one's workshop, to basic wood skills such as sanding, smoothing, or using cutting lines, to more advanced means of dimensioning and shaping wood, to joinery, sharpening, construction and finishing techniques. Each of the step-by-step instructions is illustrated with black-and-white sketches or full color photographs demonstrating every individual step. Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide To Woodworking does not spare the camera or the description, taking painstaking effort to be as clear as possible both visually and verbally. The text is straightforward, in reasonably large print and easy-to-read, and an index allows for quick and easy reference. Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide To Woodworking is a "must-have" for amateur woodworkers and an excellent basic reference review of the fundamentals suitable for advanced woodcrafters as well.

The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

After fifty years of marriage and faith, Bill and Terry Treacy died three months apart from one another. The loss simply devastated their ten children. But the siblings were able to find comfort in some inexplicable signs which assured them that their beloved parents were reunited in heaven, at peace, and still present in the lives of all those who grieved for them. Thin Places: Where Faith Is Affirmed And Hope Dwells by their daughter describes some of these signs and the realization that the ethereal veil between what we know of life here on earth and what we believe about the afterlife in heaven can become transparent at times, revealing loving messages of faith, hope, and grace to hearten us in our daily lives. Thin Places is a remarkable testament and very highly recommended reading for all those, whatever their faith, who suffer the loss of loved ones from their lives.

The Economics Shelf

The Future Of The International Monetary System is a scholarly compilation of essays by financial experts striving to identify key trends and predict the future in the international financial system. General themes discussed include "The Evolving Debate on Capital Account Liberalization", "Exchange Rate Regime and Future Monetary Arrangements", "Governance of the International Financial System: The IMF, the G7, G10 and G20" and more. A handful of charts and graphs illustrate this meticulous resource ideal for college and graduate level economics studies, college libraries, and professional economists' reference shelves.

The Native American Shelf

Written by the wife of an army officer, and compiled over the course of seven years in the 1840s at Fort Snelling, in what would one day become Minnesota Territory, Dahcotah Or, Life And Legends Of The Sioux was a groundbreaking look into Sioux (Dakota) customs and manners from a long-term observer, first published in 1849. Now republished in a new edition with a biographical preface about author Mary Eastman and featuring the quality painted landscapes of the original reproduced in color, Dahcotah Or, Life And Legends Of The Sioux retains its unique keen insight and attention to detail that distinguished it over one hundred and fifty years ago. Though Dahcotah is not an entirely unbiased account - for one thing, the author was a devout Christian who wished to see all Native Americans converted to her religion - yet it is written with empathy and sorrow for the sufferings of the Dahcotah people, retold in individual stories as well as broad descriptions, and deserves its reputation as a frontier classic.

Navajo Nation Peacemaking: Living Traditional Justice is an anthology of essays offering insights from individuals who have served within the Navajo Judicial Branch and practiced the restorative justice program of Navajo peacemaking, as well as articles by other scholars, including Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, offering a comparative perspective. Navajo peacemaking has earned renown as a "horizontal system of justice", in which all participants are treated as equals with the foremost mission of preserving ongoing relationships and restoring harmony. There is no coercion, no "sides", no labels of plaintiff or defendant. Essays discuss the history of Navajo peacemaking, its concepts and practices, assessments of the model, and conclusions as to what can be learned from this system of justice. Especially recommended for legal philosophy shelves, as the ideas within contain the potential to reform and revolutionize flaws in modern mainstream culture dispute resolution systems, whether on a governmental or private level.

Illustrated with color photographs, Rethinking Michigan Indian History is a resource especially intended for Michigan classroom teachers, as it especially explores the role that the Chippewa, Ottawa, Pottawatomie, and the twelve federally recognized tribes of Michigan played in state history. Divided into four main lessons, "Defining Our Terms and Exploring Stereotypes", "Challenging the 'Great Man' Theory of History", "Indian Treaties and the U.S. Constitution", and "How Historical Maps Influence Thinking about Michigan's Indians", Rethinking Michigan Indian History advocates change in conventional thinking and teaching practices in a non-confrontational manner. An accompanying CD-ROM holds printable PDF file versions of the graphic resources, handouts, and colorful maps on the copy-ready pages. Very highly recommended.